Specimen analyzing method and specimen analyzing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A specimen analyzing method and a specimen analyzing apparatus capable of measuring interference substances before analyzing a specimen. The method comprises a step for sucking the specimen stored in a specimen container ( 150 ) and sampling it in a first container ( 153 ), a step for optically measuring the specimen in the first container, a step for sampling the specimen in a second container ( 154 ) and preparing a specimen for measurement by mixing the specimen with a reagent in the second container, and a step for analyzing the specimen for measurement according to the results of the optical measurement of the specimen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The priority application number JP2005-093692, Specimen Analyzing Methodand Specimen Analyzing Apparatus, Mar. 29, 2005, Norimasa Yamamoto,Takashi Yamato, Naohiko Matsuo and Satoshi Iguchi, upon which thispatent application is based is hereby incorporated by reference. Thisapplication is a continuation of PCT/JP2006/305813, Specimen AnalyzingMethod and Specimen Analyzing Apparatus, Mar. 23, 2006, NorimasaYamamoto, Takashi Yamato, Naohiko Matsuo and Satoshi Iguchi.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a specimen analyzing method and aspecimen analyzing apparatus analyzing a specimen such as plasma, serumor urine.

2. Description of the Background Art

In general, a specimen analyzing apparatus optically measuring andanalyzing the quantity and the degree of activity of a specificsubstance contained in a specimen such as plasma, serum or urine isknown in the field of clinical tests. Such a specimen analyzingapparatus prepares an analytical sample by adding a reagent to thespecimen, and thereafter applies a light of a prescribed wavelength tothe analytical sample. A specimen analyzing method obtaining analysisresults by analyzing scattered light or transmitted light from theanalytical sample is generally employed.

In a specimen with symptoms of hemolysis, chyle or icterus, it may bedifficult to perform correct optical measurement. This is for thefollowing reasons: When plasma is employed as the specimen, a hemolyticspecimen is reddish due to a large quantity of hemoglobin contained inthe specimen, although normal plasma is pale yellow and substantiallytransparent. And, a chylous specimen is milky due to a large quantity oflipid contained in the specimen. And, an icteric specimen is yellow oryellow-green due to a large quantity of bilirubin contained in thespecimen. Thus, when a substance (interference substance) such ashemoglobin, lipid or bilirubin hindering the optical measurement ispresent in the specimen, a light of a specific wavelength is absorbed oran amount of a change in scattered light is insufficiently obtained,whereby it is difficult to perform correct optical measurement.Particularly in a case of a specimen with remarkable symptoms ofhemolysis, chyle and icterus, it is more difficult to perform correctoptical measurement, whereby there has been such inconvenience that itis difficult to obtain analysis results. Consequently, there has beensuch inconvenience that analytical efficiency of the specimen analyzingapparatus may be reduced.

In order to solve the aforementioned inconvenience, therefore, there isgenerally proposed a specimen test automation system automaticallydetermining the state of a specimen before analyzing the specimen withthe specimen analyzing apparatus. Such a specimen test automation systemis disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-280814, for example.The specimen test automation system disclosed in Japanese PatentLaying-Open No. 7-280814 has a dispenser dispensing a specimen from aspecimen container and an automatic analyzing apparatus analyzing thespecimen dispensed by the dispenser, and further measurespresence/absence of hemolysis, chyle and icterus (interferencesubstances) in the specimen with a separately provided “hemolysis, chyleand icterus measuring apparatus” before analysis of a serum specimenwith the automatic analyzing apparatus and collates the results of themeasurement with requested test items for the automatic analyzingapparatus. The system so controls the automatic analyzing apparatus asto analyze only requested test items whose analysis results are notinfluenced by the interference substances contained in the specimen andnot to analyze requested test items whose analysis results areinfluenced by the interference substances contained in the specimen, onthe basis of the results of the collation. When it is determined toperform analysis with the specimen analyzing apparatus, a specimen in ablood collection tube is dispensed into a sample cup for the automaticanalyzing apparatus by the dispenser, and the sample cup is transportedto the automatic analyzing apparatus. And a reagent is added into thespecimen dispensed into the sample cup, thereby analysis of therequested test items whose analysis results are not influenced by theinterference substances is performed. When there are no requested testitems analyzable in relation to the serum specimen are present as theresult of collation, the dispenser is so controlled as not to dispensethe serum specimen. Thus, the specimen test automation system accordingto the aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-280814suppresses reduction of the analytical efficiency of the automaticanalyzing apparatus.

The aforementioned Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-280814 discloses astructure spectrally measuring the states of hemolysis, chyle andicterus from outside the blood collection tube. However, a bar codelabel for specifying the specimen is generally stuck on the bloodcollection tube, and this bar code label may be such a hindrance that itis not possible to correctly measure the interference substances.

On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 6,797,518 discloses a structuremeasuring interference substances with respect to a specimen remainingon the forward end of a measuring chip sucking the specimen, while U.S.Pat. No. 5,734,468 discloses a structure sucking a specimen with a probehaving a needle and a transparent portion and measuring interferencesubstances with the transparent portion of this probe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve theaforementioned problem, and aims at providing a novel specimen analyzingmethod and a novel specimen analyzing apparatus capable of measuringinterference substances before analyzing a specimen.

In order to attain the aforementioned object, a specimen analyzingmethod according to a first aspect of the present invention comprisessteps of sucking a specimen stored in a specimen container and samplingthe specimen into a first container, optically measuring the specimen inthe first container, sampling the specimen into a second container andpreparing a measurement sample by mixing the specimen with a reagent inthe second container, and analyzing the measurement sample according toa result of the optical measurement of the specimen.

A specimen analyzing apparatus according to a second aspect of thepresent invention comprises a first sampling portion for sucking aspecimen stored in a specimen container and sampling the specimen into afirst container, an optical measurement portion for optically measuringthe specimen sampled into the first container, a second sampling portionfor sampling the specimen into a second container, a sample preparationportion for preparing a measurement sample by mixing the specimen with areagent in the second container, an analysis portion for analyzing themeasurement sample in the second container, and a control portion forcontrolling an analyzing operation by the analysis portion according toa result of the optical measurement of the specimen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a specimenanalyzing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a detection mechanism portion and atransport mechanism portion of the specimen analyzing apparatusaccording to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of a control unit shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a specimen container of thespecimen analyzing apparatus according to the first embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a first optical informationacquisition portion of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view schematically showing the first opticalinformation acquisition portion according to the first embodiment shownin FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the structure of the first opticalinformation acquisition portion according to the first embodiment shownin FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the structure of a second opticalinformation acquisition portion of the specimen analyzing apparatusaccording to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a lamp portion ofthe second optical information acquisition portion according to thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a filter member of the lamp portionaccording to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing a control method of the specimenanalyzing apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a specimen analysis table output to adisplay portion of the control unit of the specimen analyzing apparatusaccording to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a specimen analyzingoperation of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for illustrating analysis processing for opticalinformation from the first optical information acquisition portionaccording to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart for illustrating the analysis processing for theoptical information from the first optical information acquisitionportion according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for illustrating the analysis processing for theoptical information from the first optical information acquisitionportion according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of aspecimen analyzing apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a detection mechanism portion and atransport mechanism portion of the specimen analyzing apparatusaccording to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a first optical informationacquisition portion of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to thesecond embodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for illustrating the structure of thefirst optical information acquisition portion of the specimen analyzingapparatus according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of the first optical information acquisitionportion of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a lamp unit of the specimenanalyzing apparatus according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for illustrating the structure of thelamp unit of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged perspective view showing a filter portion of thelamp unit shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram for illustrating the internal structureof a detection portion of a second optical information acquisitionportion of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 26 is a sectional view for illustrating the structure of thedetection portion of the second optical information acquisition portionof the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the second embodimentshown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of the second optical information acquisitionportion of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a specimen analyzingoperation of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 29 is a graph showing absorbance spectra of an interferencesubstance (hemoglobin).

FIG. 30 is a graph showing absorbance spectra of another interferencesubstance (bilirubin).

FIG. 31 is a graph showing absorbance spectra of still anotherinterference substance (chyle).

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a second opticalinformation acquisition portion according to a modification of the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a specimen analyzingoperation of a specimen analyzing apparatus according to a modificationof the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference tothe drawings.

First Embodiment

First, the overall structure of a specimen analyzing apparatus 1according to a first embodiment of the present invention is describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

The specimen analyzing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention is an apparatus for optically measuring andanalyzing the quantity and the degree of activity of a specificsubstance related to coagulative and fibrinolytic functions of blood,and employs plasma as a specimen. The specimen analyzing apparatus 1according to the first embodiment optically measures the specimen with acoagulation time method, a synthetic substrate method andimmunonephelometry. The coagulation time method is a measuring methoddetecting the process of coagulation of the specimen as a change oftransmitted light or scattered light. The synthetic substrate method isa measuring method detecting a change of absorbance in the process ofcolor development of a color-producing synthetic substrate added to thespecimen on the basis of a change of transmitted light. Theimmunonephelometry is a measuring method detecting a change ofabsorbance resulting from antigen-antibody reaction of an antibodysensitizing reagent such as a latex reagent added to the specimen on thebasis of a change of transmitted light. The specimen analyzing apparatus1 is constituted of a detection mechanism portion 2, a transportmechanism portion 3 arranged on the front side of the detectionmechanism portion 2 and a control unit 4 electrically connected to thedetection mechanism portion 2, as shown in FIG. 1.

The transport mechanism portion 3 is so formed as to automaticallysupply specimens to the detection mechanism portion 2 by transporting arack 151 receiving a plurality of (according to the first embodiment,10) test tubes 150 storing the specimens to a position corresponding toa suctional position 2 a (see FIG. 2) of the detection mechanism portion2. Each test tube 150 is provided with an opening on the upper portionthereof, and a lid 152 is fitted into the opening, as shown in FIG. 4. Arecess portion 152 a stuck with a nozzle 35 described later is formed inthis lid 152. This transport mechanism portion 3 has a rack set region 3a for setting the rack 151 receiving the test tubes 150 storinguntreated specimens and a rack storage region 3 b for storing the rack151 receiving the test tubes 150 storing treated specimens. In otherwords, the rack 151 set on the rack set region 3 a is transported to theposition corresponding to the suctional position 2 a of the detectionmechanism portion 2, as shown in FIG. 2. After the detection mechanismportion 2 performs dispensation (primary dispensation) of the specimensstored in the test tubes 150, the rack 151 is transported to and storedin the rack storage region 3 b. A plurality of racks 150 can be set onthe rack set region 3 a of the transport mechanism portion 3.

The control unit 4 is formed by a personal computer (PC) or the like,and includes a control portion 4 a, a display portion 4 b and a keyboard4 c, as shown in FIG. 1. The control portion 4 a controls operations ofthe detection mechanism portion 2 and the transport mechanism portion 3,and has a function for analyzing optical information of the specimensobtained in the detection mechanism portion 2. This control portion 4 ais formed by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and the like. The display portion 4 bis provided for displaying information related to interferencesubstances (hemoglobin, chyle (lipid) and bilirubin) present in thespecimens and analysis results obtained in the control portion 4 a.

The structure of the control unit 4 is now described. The control unit 4is constituted of a computer 401 mainly constituted of the controlportion 4 a, the display portion 4 b and the keyboard 4 c, as shown inFIG. 3. The control portion 4 a is mainly constituted of a CPU 401 a, aROM 401 b, a RAM 401 c, a hard disk 401 d, a reader 401 e, aninput/output interface 401 f, a communication interface 401 g and animage output interface 401 h, and the CPU 401 a, the ROM 401 b, the RAM401 c, the hard disk 401 d, the reader 401 e, the input/output interface401 f, the communication interface 401 g and the image output interface401 h are connected with each other by a bus 401 i.

The CPU 401 a can run computer programs stored in the ROM 401 b andcomputer programs loaded in the RAM 401 c. This CPU 401 a runs anapplication program 404 a described later, so that the computer 401functions as the control unit 4.

The ROM 401 b is constituted of a mask ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROMor the like, and the computer programs run by the CPU 401 a and dataemployed therefor are recorded therein.

The RAM 401 c is constituted of an SRAM or a DRAM. The RAM 401 c isemployed for reading the computer programs recorded in the ROM 401 b andthe hard disk 401 d. Further, the RAM 401 c is utilized as a workingarea of the CPU 401 a when running these computer programs.

An operating system and various computer programs such as applicationprograms to be run by the CPU 401 a as well as data employed for runningthe computer programs are installed in the hard disk 401 d. Theapplication program 404 a for blood coagulation analysis processing isalso installed in this hard disk 401 d.

The reader 401 e is constituted of a flexible disk drive, a CD-ROM driveor a DVD-ROM drive, and can read computer programs or data recorded in aportable recording medium 404. The portable recording medium 404 storesthe application program 404 a for blood coagulation analysis processing,while the computer 401 can read the application program 404 a related tothe present invention from the portable recording medium 404 and installthis application program 404 a in the hard disk 401 d.

The aforementioned application program 404 a is not only provided by theportable recording medium 404, but can also be provided from an externalapparatus communicably connected with the computer 401 by an electriccommunication line (whether wire or wireless) through the said electriccommunication line. For example, it is also possible that the saidapplication program 404 a is stored in a hard disk of a server computeron the Internet, so that the computer 401 accesses this server computer,downloads the application program 404 a and installs the same in thehard disk 401 d.

Further, the operating system such as Windows® manufactured and sold byMicrosoft, U.S.A., for example, providing graphical user interfaceenvironment is installed in the hard disk 401 d. In the followingdescription, it is assumed that the application program 404 a accordingto this embodiment operates on this operating system.

The output interface 401 f is constituted of a serial interface such asUSB, IEEE 1394 or RS-232C, a parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE orIEEE 1284, an analog interface formed by a D/A converter, an A/Dconverter etc. or the like, for example. The keyboard 4 c is connectedto the input/output interface 401 f, so that the user can input datainto the computer 401 by using this keyboard 4 c.

The communication interface 401 g is Ethernet® interface, for example.The computer 401 can transmit/receive data to/from the detectionmechanism 2 by this communication interface 401 g with a prescribedcommunication protocol.

The image output interface 401 h is connected to the display portion 4 bconstituted of an LCD or a CRT, for outputting an image signalcorresponding to image data supplied from the CPU 401 a to the displayportion 4 b. The display portion 4 b displays an image (screen)according to the input image signal.

The detection mechanism portion 2 is enabled to acquire opticalinformation related to the specimens by optically measuring thespecimens supplied from the transport mechanism portion 3. The specimenanalyzing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment opticallymeasures the specimens dispensed from the test tubes 150 of thetransport mechanism portion 3 into cuvettes 153 and 154 (see FIG. 2) ofthe detection mechanism portion 2. The cuvettes 153 are held in holdingportions 24 a of a primary dispensation table 24 described later, whilethe cuvettes 154 are held in holding portions 23 a of a secondarydispensation table 23 described later. The detection mechanism portion 2includes a cuvette supply portion 10, a rotational transport portion 20,a specimen dispensation arm 30, a first optical information acquisitionportion 40, two reagent dispensation arms 50, a cuvette transfer portion60, a second optical information acquisition portion 70, an emergencyspecimen set portion 80, a cuvette disposal portion 90 and a fluidportion 100, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The cuvette supply portion 10 is enabled to successively supply theplurality of cuvettes 153 and 154 to the rotational transport portion20. This cuvette supply portion 10 includes a hopper 12 mounted on theapparatus body through a bracket 11 (see FIG. 1), two induction plates13 provided under the hopper 12, a fulcrum 14 arranged on the lower endsof the two induction plates 13 and a supply catcher portion 15 providedat a prescribed interval from the fulcrum 14, as shown in FIG. 2. Thetwo induction plates 13 are arranged parallelly to each other at aninterval smaller than the diameter of flange portions 153 a and 154 a(see FIG. 6) of the cuvettes 153 and 154 and larger than the diameter ofbody portions 153 b and 154 b (see FIG. 6) of the cuvettes 153 and 154.The cuvettes 153 and 154 supplied into the hopper 12 are so formed as toslide down and move toward the fulcrum 14, with the flange portions 153a and 154 a engaging with the upper surfaces of the two induction plates13.

The fulcrum 14 has a rotating portion 14 a rotatably provided withrespect to the fulcrum 14 and a recess portion 14 b formed adjacently tothe rotating portion 14 a, as shown in FIG. 2. Four notches 14 c areformed on the outer periphery of the rotating portion 14 a everyprescribed angle (90°). These four notches 14 c are provided forreceiving the cuvettes 153 and 154 induced by the two induction plates13 one by one. The recess portion 14 b is enabled to receive thecuvettes 153 and 154 from the notches 14 c of the rotating portion 14 a,and provided as a supply start position for supplying the cuvettes 153and 154 to the rotational transport portion 20 with the supply catcherportion 15.

The supply catcher portion 15 is provided for supplying the cuvettes 153and 154 from the cuvette supply portion 10 to the rotational transportportion 20. This supply catcher portion 15 has a drive motor 15 a, apulley 15 b connected to the drive motor 15 a, another pulley 15 cprovided at a prescribed interval from the pulley 15 b, a drivetransmission belt 15 d attached to the pulleys 15 b and 15 c, an armportion 15 f mounted on the pulley 15 c through a shaft 15 e and adriving portion 15 g for vertically moving the arm portion 15 f. Thedrive motor 15 a functions as a drive source for rotating the armportion 15 f about the shaft 15 e between the fulcrum 14 and therotational transport portion 20. A chuck portion 15 h for holding andgrasping each of the cuvettes 153 and 154 is provided on the forward endof the arm portion 15 f.

The rotational transport portion 20 is provided for transporting thecuvettes 153 and 154 supplied from the cuvette supply portion 10 andreagent containers (not shown) storing reagents added to the specimensstored in the cuvettes 153 and 154 in a rotational direction. Thisrotational transport portion 20 is constituted of a circular reagenttable 21, an annular reagent table 22 arranged on the outer side of thecircular reagent table 21, an annular secondary dispensation table 23arranged on the outer side of the annular reagent table 22 and anannular primary dispensation table 24 arranged on the outer side of theannular secondary dispensation table 23. The primary dispensation table24, the secondary dispensation table 23, the reagent table 21 and thereagent table 22 are rotatable in both of the clockwise direction andthe counterclockwise direction respectively, and the respective tablesare enabled to rotate independently of each other.

The reagent tables 21 and 22 include a plurality of holes 21 a and 22 aprovided at prescribed intervals respectively. The holes 21 a and 22 aof the reagent tables 21 and 22 are provided for receiving a pluralityof reagent containers (not shown) storing various reagents added whenmeasurement samples are prepared from the specimens. Further, theprimary dispensation table 24 and the secondary dispensation table 23include a plurality of cylindrical holding portions 24 a and 23 aprovided at prescribed intervals respectively. The holding portions 24 aand 23 a are provided for holding the cuvettes 153 and 154 supplied fromthe cuvette supply portion 10 respectively. The specimens are dispensedfrom the test tubes 150 of the transport mechanism portion 3 into thecuvettes 153 held in the holding portions 24 a of the primarydispensation table 24 in primary dispensation processing. Then, thespecimens are dispensed from the cuvettes 153 held on the primarydispensation table 24 into the cuvettes 154 held in the holding portions23 a of the secondary dispensation table 23 in secondary dispensationprocessing. Each holding portion 24 a is provided with a pair of smallholes 24 b on opposite positions of side portions of the holding portion24 a, as shown in FIG. 6. The pair of small holes 24 b are provided forpassing lights emitted from a light-emitting diode (LED) 41, describedlater, of the first optical information acquisition portion 40therethrough.

The specimen dispensation arm 30 shown in FIG. 2 has a function fordispensing the specimens stored in the test tubes 150 transported by thetransport mechanism portion 3 to the suctional position 2 a of thedetection mechanism portion 2 into the cuvettes 153 held in the holdingportions 24 a of the primary dispensation table 24 of the rotationaltransport portion 20. The specimen dispensation arm 30 also has afunction for dispensing the specimens from the cuvettes 153 held in theholding portions 24 a of the primary dispensation table 24 of therotational transport portion 20 into the cuvettes 154 held in theholding portions 23 a of the secondary dispensation table 23. Thisspecimen dispensation arm 30 includes a drive motor 31, a drivetransmission portion 32 connected to the drive motor 31 and an armportion 34 mounted on the drive transmission portion 32 through a shaft33 (see FIG. 1). The drive transmission portion 32 is enabled to rotatethe arm portion 34 about the shaft 33 and to vertically move the samewith driving force from the driving motor 31. The nozzle 35 (see FIG. 1)is mounted on the forward end of the arm portion 34. This nozzle 35 hasa function of sucking the specimens by piercing into the recess portions152 a (see FIG. 4) of the lids 152 fitted into the openings of the testtubes 150.

The first optical information acquisition portion 40 is so formed as toacquire optical information from the specimens, in order to detectpresence/absence of interference substances in the specimens beforeaddition of the reagents and types and degrees of inclusion thereof.This first optical information acquisition portion 40 acquires opticalinformation from the specimens to which the reagents have been added, inadvance of optical measurement of the specimens with the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 40. The first optical informationacquisition portion 40 is arranged above the primary dispensation table24 of the rotational transport portion 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, andacquires optical information from the specimens stored in the cuvettes153 held in the holding portions 24 a of the primary dispensation table24. The first optical information acquisition portion 40 includes thelight-emitting diode (LED) 41 (see FIG. 6) serving as a light source, alight-emission-side holder 42, a photoelectric conversion element 43(see FIG. 6), a light-receiving-side holder 44, a bracket 45 and asubstrate 46, as shown in FIG. 5.

The light-emitting diode 41 is provided to be capable of applying lightsto the cuvette 153 held in each holding portion 24 a of the primarydispensation table 24, as shown in FIG. 6. This light-emitting diode 41is so controlled by a controller 46 d (see FIG. 7) of the substrate 46as to be capable of periodically successively emitting lights of threedifferent wavelengths. The light-emitting diode 41 according to thefirst embodiment can emit a blue light having a wavelength of 430 nm, agreen light having a wavelength of 565 nm and a red light having awavelength of 627 nm. The light-emission-side holder 42 is provided forsupporting the light-emitting diode 41 (see FIG. 6) and the substrate46, as shown in FIG. 5. The photoelectric conversion element 43 has afunction for detecting the lights emitted from the light-emitting diode41 and passed through the cuvettes 153 and converting the same toelectric signals. The light-receiving-side holder 44 is mounted on thelight-emission-side holder 42 through the bracket 45 as shown in FIG. 5,and formed in a shape capable of storing the photoelectric conversionelement 43 (see FIG. 6) therein. A lid member 47 provided with a slit 47a on a prescribed position is mounted on this light-receiving-sideholder 44. The lights emitted from the light-emitting diode 41 andtransmitted through the cuvettes 153 held in the holding portions 24 aof the primary dispensation table 24 are detected by the photoelectricconversion element 43 through the slit 47 a of the lid member 47.

The substrate 46 has a function of amplifying the electric signalsreceived from the photoelectric conversion element 43 and transmittingthe same to the control portion 4 a of the control unit 4. The substrate46 is constituted of a preamplifier 46 a, an amplification portion 46 b,an A/D converter 46 c and the controller 46 d, as shown in FIG. 7. Theamplification portion 46 b has an amplifier 46 e and an electronicvolume 46 f. The preamplifier 46 a and the amplifier 46 e are providedfor amplifying the electric signals received from the photoelectricconversion element 43. The amplifier 46 e of the amplification portion46 b is enabled to control the gain (amplification factor) of theamplifier 46 e by inputting a control signal received from thecontroller 46 d into the electronic volume 46 f. The A/D converter 46 cis provided for converting the electric signals (analog signals)amplified by the amplifier 46 e to digital signals.

The controller 46 d is so formed as to change the gain (amplificationfactor) of the amplifier 46 e coincidentally with periodic changes ofthe wavelengths (430 nm, 565 nm and 627 nm) of the lights emitted fromthe light-emitting diode 41. Further, the controller 46 d iselectrically connected to the control portion 4 a of the control unit 4as shown in FIG. 7, and transmits data of the digital signals acquiredin the first optical information acquisition portion 40 to the controlportion 4 a of the control unit 4. Thus, the control unit 4 analyzes thedata of the digital signals received from the first optical informationacquisition portion 40, thereby obtaining absorbances of the specimensstored in the cuvettes 153 with respect to the three lights emitted fromthe light-emitting diode 41, and analyzing presence/absence ofinterference substances in the specimens and types and degrees ofinclusion thereof. The control unit 4 determines whether or not tomeasure the specimens with the second optical information acquisitionportion 70 and controls a method of analyzing detection results receivedfrom the second optical information acquisition portion 70 and a methodof displaying the analysis results on the basis of the analysis results.

The two reagent dispensation arms 50 shown in FIG. 2 are provided fordispensing the reagents stored in the reagent containers (not shown)placed in the holes 21 a and 22 a of the reagent tables 21 and 22 intothe cuvettes 154 of the secondary dispensation table 23. These tworeagent dispensation arms 50 add the reagents to the specimens stored inthe cuvettes 154 of the secondary dispensation table 23 so that themeasurement samples are prepared. The two reagent dispensation arms 50include drive motors 51, drive transmission portions 52 connected to thedrive motors 51 and arm portions 54 mounted on the drive transmissionportions 52 through shafts 53 (see FIG. 1) respectively, as shown inFIG. 2. The drive transmission portions 52 are enabled to rotate the armportions 54 about the shafts 53 and to vertically move the same withdriving force from the drive motors 51. Nozzles 55 (see FIG. 1) forsucking and discharging the reagents are mounted on the forward ends ofthe arm portions 54.

The cuvette transfer portion 60 is provided for transferring thecuvettes 154 storing the measurement samples between the secondarydispensation table 23 of the rotational transport portion 20 and acuvette receiving portion 71 of the second optical informationacquisition portion 70. The cuvette transfer portion 60 includes a chuckportion 61 for holding and grasping each cuvette 154 and a drivingmechanism portion 62 for moving the chuck portion 61 in directions X, Yand Z (see FIG. 1) respectively, as shown in FIG. 2. The drivingmechanism portion 62 has a function for vibrating the chuck portion 61.Thus, the measurement sample stored in each cuvette 154 can be easilystirred by vibrating the chuck portion 61 in the state grasping thecuvette 154.

The second optical information acquisition portion 70 has a function forheating the measurement samples prepared by adding the reagents to thespecimens and optically measuring the measurement samples. This secondoptical information acquisition portion 70 is constituted of the cuvettereceiving portion 71 and a detection portion 72 (see FIG. 8) arrangedunder the cuvette receiving portion 71, as shown in FIG. 2. The cuvettereceiving portion 71 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 71a for inserting the cuvettes 154. Further, the cuvette receiving portion71 stores a heating mechanism (not shown) for heating the cuvettes 154inserted into the insertion holes 71 a to a prescribed temperature.

According to the first embodiment, the detection portion 72 of thesecond optical information acquisition portion 70 is enabled tooptically measure the measurement samples stored in the cuvettes 154inserted into the insertion holes 71 a under a plurality of conditions.This detection portion 72 includes a lamp portion 73 serving as a lightsource, a photoelectric conversion element 74, a preamplifier 75, anamplification portion 76, an A/D converter 77, a logger 78 and acontroller 79, as shown in FIG. 8. The lamp portion 73 has a halogenlamp 73 a, three condenser lenses 73 b, a discoidal filter member 73 c,an optical fiber 73 d and branched optical fibers 73 e, as shown in FIG.9. The three condenser lenses 73 d are provided for condensing a lightemitted from the halogen lamp 73 a on the filter member 73 c.

According to the first embodiment, the filter member 73 c is renderedrotatable about a shaft 73 f, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This filtermember 73 c is provided with a plurality of filters 73 g havingdifferent transmission wavelengths at prescribed angular intervals (atintervals of 45° according to the first embodiment) along the rotationaldirection of the filter member 73 c, as shown in FIG. 10. As hereinabovedescribed, the filter member 73 c including the plurality of filters 73g having different transmission wavelengths is rendered rotatable sothat the light emitted from the halogen lamp 73 a can be successivelypassed through the plurality of filters 73 g having differenttransmission wavelengths, whereby a plurality of lights having differentwavelengths can be successively supplied to the optical fiber 73 d.According to the first embodiment, the filter member 73 c can supplylights having five different wavelengths of 340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660nm and 800 nm to the optical fiber 73 d. The lights having thewavelengths of 340 nm and 405 nm are employed for measurement by thesynthetic substrate method respectively. The lights having thewavelengths of 575 nm and 800 nm are employed for measurement byimmunonephelometry respectively. The light having the wavelength of 660nm is employed for measurement by the coagulation time method. Thebranched optical fibers 73 e are provided for branching the lightsreceived from the optical fiber 73 d thereby supplying the lights to thecuvettes 154 inserted into the plurality of insertion holes 71 a of thecuvette receiving portion 71 respectively.

The photoelectric conversion element 74 shown in FIG. 8 has a functionfor detecting the lights received from the lamp portion 73 andtransmitted through the measurement samples stored in the cuvettes 154inserted into the insertion holes 71 a of the cuvette receiving portion71 and converting the same to electric signals. The preamplifier 75 isprovided for amplifying the electric signals received from thephotoelectric conversion element 74.

According to the first embodiment, the amplification portion 76 includesan amplifier (L) 76 a having a prescribed gain (amplification factor),an amplifier (H) 76 b having a higher gain (amplification factor) thanthe amplifier (L) 76 a and a changeover switch 76 c, as shown in FIG. 8.According to the first embodiment, the electric signals received fromthe preamplifier 75 are input in both of the amplifier (L) 76 a and theamplifier (H) 76 b. The amplifier (L) 76 a and the amplifier (H) 76 bare provided for further amplifying the electric signals received fromthe preamplifier 75. The changeover switch 76 c is provided forselecting whether to output the electric signals received from theamplifier (L) 76 a to the A/D converter 77 or to output the electricsignals received from the amplifier (H) 76 b to the A/D converter 77.This changeover switch 76 c is so formed as to perform a switchingoperation by receiving a control signal from the controller 79.

The A/D converter 77 is provided for converting the electric signals(analog signals) received from the amplifier 76 to digital signals. Thelogger 78 has a function for temporarily preserving the data of thedigital signals received from the A/D converter 77. This logger 78 iselectrically connected to the control portion 4 a of the control unit 4,and transmits the data of the digital signals acquired in the secondoptical information acquisition portion 70 to the control portion 4 a ofthe control unit 4. Thus, the control unit 4 analyzes the data of thedigital signals transmitted from the second optical informationacquisition portion 70 on the basis of the analysis results of thepreviously acquired data of the digital signals received from the firstoptical information acquisition portion 40, and displays the results onthe display portion 4 b.

The emergency specimen set portion 80 shown in FIG. 2 is provided forperforming specimen analysis processing on specimens requiring emergenttreatment. This emergency specimen set portion 80 is enabled tointerrupt the specimen analysis processing, performed on the specimenssupplied from the transport mechanism portion 3, by emergency specimens.The emergency specimen set portion 80 includes a rail 81 so provided asto extend in the direction X and an emergency specimen rack 82 movablealong the rail 81. This emergency specimen rack 82 is provided with testtube insertion holes 82 a for inserting test tubes (not shown) storingthe emergency specimens and reagent container insertion holes 82 b forinserting reagent containers (not shown) storing reagents.

The cuvette disposal portion 90 is provided for disposing the cuvettes153 from the rotational transport portion 20. The cuvette disposalportion 90 is constituted of a disposal catcher portion 91, a disposalhole 92 (see FIG. 1) provided at a prescribed interval from the disposalcatcher portion 91 and a disposal box 93 set under the disposal hole 92,as shown in FIG. 2. The disposal catcher portion 91 is provided formoving the cuvettes 153 and 154 from the rotational transport portion 20into the disposal box 93 through the disposal hole 92 (see FIG. 1). Thisdisposal catcher portion 91 has a drive motor 91 a, a pulley 91 bconnected to the drive motor 91 a, another pulley 91 c provided at aprescribed interval from the pulley 91 b, a drive transmission belt 91 dattached to the pulleys 91 b and 91 c, an arm portion 91 f mounted onthe pulley 91 c through a shaft 91 e and a driving portion 91 g forvertically moving the arm portion 91 f. The drive motor 91 a functionsas a drive source for rotating the arm portion 91 f about the shaft 91 ebetween the rotational transport portion 20 and the disposal hole 92. Achuck portion 91 h for holding and grasping each of the cuvettes 153 and154 is provided on the forward end of the arm portion 91 f. A graspportion 93 a grasped by the user for drawing out the disposal box 93toward the front side of the apparatus is mounted on the disposal box93.

The fluid portion 100 shown in FIG. 1 is provided for supplying a liquidsuch as a detergent to the nozzles 35 and 55 provided on the respectivedispensation arms in shutdown processing of the specimen analyzingapparatus 1.

A specimen analyzing operation of the specimen analyzing apparatus 1according to the first embodiment of the present invention is nowdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1, 11 and 12.

First, the power sources for the detection mechanism portion 2 and thecontrol unit 4 of the specimen analyzing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 arebrought into ON states respectively, whereby the specimen analyzingapparatus 1 is initialized at a step S1. Thus, an operation forreturning a mechanism for moving the cuvettes 153 and 154 and therespective dispensation arms to initial positions, initialization of theapplication program 404 a stored in the hard disk 401 d of the controlunit 4 etc. are performed. At a step S2, the user inputs specimenanalysis information. In other words, the user inputs information in thecolumns of specimen numbers and measurement items of a specimen analysistable (see FIG. 12) output to the display portion 4 b of the controlunit 4 with the keyboard 4 c of the control unit 4. The specimenanalysis information is preserved in the RAM 401 c of the controlportion 4 a.

The specimen analysis table shown in FIG. 12 is now described. Numbers(“000101” etc.) for identifying the individual specimens are input inthe column of specimen numbers. Symbols (“PT”, “ATIII” etc.) indicatingmeasuring methods adopted for the specimens are input in the column ofmeasurement items associated with the specimen numbers. “PT”(prothrombin time) and “APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) inthe measurement items are items subjected to measurement with thecoagulation time method. “ATIII” (antithrombin III) in the measurementitems is an item subjected to measurement with the synthetic substratemethod. “FDP” (fibrin decomposition product) in the measurement items isan item subjected to measurement with the immunonephelometry.

The specimen analysis table is provided with items of secondarydispensation flags, interference substance flags including threesubitems of bilirubin, hemoglobin and chyle, wavelength change flags andhigh-gain flags. These items, set to OFF (displayed with “0” in thetable) in the initialization at the step S1, are changed to ON(displayed with “1” in the table) in response to the analysis results ofthe optical information received from the first optical informationacquisition portion 40. FIG. 12 shows a state where all items are OFF. Astate where any secondary dispensation flag is ON indicates that thecorresponding specimen is the object of secondary dispensation as to thecorresponding measurement item. A state where any flag of bilirubin,hemoglobin or chyle is ON indicates an operation of outputting a messagestating that there is a high possibility that the corresponding specimenis influenced by bilirubin, hemoglobin or chyle to the display portion 4b of the control unit 4 as to the corresponding measurement item. Astate where all flags of bilirubin, hemoglobin and chyle are ON is sucha state that influence by the interference substance is so remarkablethat it is difficult to determine which one of bilirubin, hemoglobin andchyle influences the corresponding specimen, and indicates an operationof outputting a message stating that there is a high possibility thatthe specimen is influenced by the interference substance (the type isnot specified) to the display portion 4 b of the control unit 4. A statewhere any wavelength change flag is ON indicates that opticalinformation acquired with the light of a wavelength (800 nm) differentfrom the light of the normal wavelength (660 nm) is regarded as theobject of analysis as to the corresponding measurement item. A statewhere any high-gain flag is ON indicates that optical informationacquired with a gain (amplification factor) higher than the normal gain(amplification factor) of the amplifier 46 e is regarded as the objectof analysis.

While the reagent containers (not shown) storing the reagents necessaryfor preparing the measurement samples and the test tubes 150 storing thespecimens are set on prescribed positions respectively, the user inputsanalyzing operation starting. Thus, the analyzing operation for eachspecimen is started at a step S3. After terminating a prescribedspecimen analyzing operation, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not ashutdown instruction for the specimen analyzing apparatus 1 has beeninput at a step S4. If the CPU 401 a determines that the shutdowninstruction for the specimen analyzing apparatus 1 has not been input atthe step S4, the process returns to the step S2 so that the user inputsanother specimen analysis information. If the CPU 401 a determines thatthe shutdown instruction for the specimen analyzing apparatus 1 has beeninput at the step S4, on the other hand, shutdown processing isperformed at a step S5. Thus, cleaning of the nozzles 35 and 55 providedon the respective dispensation arms shown in FIG. 1 or the like isperformed and thereafter the power sources for the detection mechanismportion 2 and the control unit 4 of the specimen analyzing apparatus 1automatically enter OFF states, so that the specimen analyzing operationof the specimen analyzing apparatus 1 is terminated.

The specimen analyzing operation of the specimen analyzing apparatus 1at the aforementioned step S3 of FIG. 11 is now described in detail withreference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 13. The user inputs the analyzing operationstarting, so that the transport mechanism portion 3 shown in FIG. 2transports the rack 151 receiving the test tubes 150 storing thespecimens at a step S11. Thus, the rack 151 of the rack set region 3 ais transported to the position corresponding to the suctional position 2a of the detection mechanism portion 2. At a step S12, the nozzle 35(see FIG. 1) of the specimen dispensation arm 30 sucks a prescribedquantity of the specimen from each test tube 150. The drive motor 31 ofthe specimen dispensation arm 30 is driven for moving the nozzle 35 ofthe specimen dispensation arm 30 to a position above each cuvette 153held on the primary dispensation table 24 of the rotational transportportion 20. At a step S13, the nozzle 35 of the specimen dispensationarm 30 discharges the specimen into the cuvette 153 of the primarydispensation table 24, so that primary dispensation processing isperformed.

Then, the primary dispensation table 24 is rotated for transporting thecuvette 153 into which the specimen has been dispensed to a positionallowing measurement with the first optical information acquisitionportion 40. Thus, the first optical information acquisition portion 40optically measures the specimen and acquires optical information fromthe specimen at a step S14. More specifically, the photoelectricconversion element 43 first successively detects the lights of the threedifferent wavelengths (430 nm, 565 nm and 627 nm) emitted from thelight-emitting diode (LED) 41 and transmitted through the specimenstored in the cuvette 153 held in the corresponding holding portion 24 a(see FIG. 6) of the primary dispensation table 24. Then, thepreamplifier 46 a (see FIG. 7) and the amplifier 46 e amplify electricsignals converted by the photoelectric conversion element 43, while theA/D converter 46 c converts the same to digital signals. Thereafter thecontroller 46 d transmits the data of the digital signals to the controlportion 4 a of the control unit 4. Thus, the first optical informationacquisition portion 40 completes acquisition of the optical information(data of the digital signals) with respect to the specimen. At a stepS15, the CPU 401 a of the control unit 4 analyzes the opticalinformation of the specimen.

According to the first embodiment, the CPU 401 a of the control unit 4determines whether or not the specimen stored in the cuvette 153 held inthe holding portion 24 a of the primary dispensation table 24 is theobject of secondary dispensation at a step S16, on the basis of theresults of the analysis at the step S15. If determining that thespecimen stored in the cuvette 153 held on the primary dispensationtable 24 is not the object of secondary dispensation at the step S16,the CPU 401 a outputs a message stating that the influence by theinterference substance (at least one substance selected from the groupconsisting of bilirubin, hemoglobin and chyle (including a case wherethe interference substance is hard to specify)) contained in thespecimen is so remarkable that it is difficult to perform reliableanalysis to the display portion 4 b of the control unit 4 at a step S17.If the CPU 401 a determines that the specimen stored in the cuvette 153held in the holding portion 24 a of the primary dispensation table 24 isthe object of secondary dispensation at the step S16, on the other hand,the nozzle 35 of the specimen dispensation arm 30 sucks a prescribedquantity of the specimen from the cuvette 153 held in the holdingportion 24 a of the primary dispensation table 24 at a step S18.Thereafter the nozzle 35 of the specimen dispensation arm 30 dischargesthe prescribed quantity of the specimen into the plurality of cuvettes154 of the secondary dispensation table 23 respectively, so thatsecondary dispensation processing is performed.

The reagent dispensation arms 50 are driven for adding the reagentsstored in the reagent containers placed on the reagent tables 21 and 22to the specimens stored in the cuvettes 154 of the secondarydispensation table 23. Thus, the measurement samples are prepared at astep S19. Then, the cuvettes 154 of the secondary dispensation table 23storing the measurement samples are moved into the insertion holes 71 aof the cuvette receiving portion 71 of the second optical informationacquisition portion 70 with the chuck portion 61 of the cuvette transferportion 60.

According to the first embodiment, the detection portion 72 of thesecond optical information acquisition portion 70 optically measures themeasurement sample stored in each cuvette 154 under a plurality ofconditions at a step S20, thereby acquiring a plurality (10 types) ofoptical information from the measurement sample. More specifically, theheating mechanism (not shown) heats the cuvette 154 inserted into thecorresponding insertion hole 71 a of the cuvette receiving portion 71 tothe prescribed temperature. Thereafter the lamp portion 73 of thedetection portion 72 (see FIG. 8) applies lights to the cuvette 154 ofthe cuvette receiving portion 71. The lamp portion 73 periodically emitslights of five different wavelengths (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm and800 nm) due to the rotation of the filter member 73 c. The photoelectricconversion element 74 successively detects the aforementioned lights ofthe respective wavelengths emitted from the lamp portion 73 andtransmitted through the cuvette 152 and the measurement sample in thecuvette 152. The electric signals corresponding to the lights of thefive different wavelengths converted by the photoelectric conversionelement 74 are amplified by the preamplifier 75, and thereaftersuccessively input in the amplification portion 76.

In the amplification portion 76, the electric signals corresponding tothe lights of the five different wavelengths received from thepreamplifier 75 are input in the amplifier (H) 76 b having the highamplification factor and the amplifier (L) 76 a having the normalamplification factor respectively. The controller 79 controls thechangeover switch 76 c, so that the electric signals amplified by theamplifier (H) 76 b are output to the A/D converter 77, and the electricsignals amplified by the amplifier (L) 76 a are thereafter output to theA/D converter 77. The changeover switch 76 c is repetitively switched inresponse to the timing of the rotation of the filter member 73 c in thelamp portion 73. Thus, the amplification portion 76 amplifies theelectric signals corresponding to the lights of the five differentwavelengths with two different amplification factors respectively, andrepetitively outputs 10 types of electric signals in total to the A/Dconverter 77. The 10 types of electric signals are converted to digitalsignals by the A/D converter 77, temporarily stored in the logger 78,and thereafter successively transmitted from the controller 79 to thecontrol portion 4 a of the control unit 4. Thus, the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 70 completes acquisition of theplurality (10 types) of optical information (data of digital signals)with respect to the measurement sample.

At a step S21, the CPU 401 a of the control unit 4 analyzes opticalinformation determined as suitable for analysis among the plurality (10types) of optical information with respect to the measurement samplereceived from the second optical information acquisition portion 70, onthe basis of the analysis results of the previously acquired opticalinformation (data of digital signals) received from the first opticalinformation acquisition portion 40. At a step S22, the CPU 401 a of thecontrol unit 4 determines whether or not the analysis results of themeasurement sample obtained at the step S21 can be output. Ifdetermining that the analysis results of the measurement sample obtainedat the step S21 cannot be output at the step S22, the CPU 401 a outputsa message stating that the influence by the interference substance(chyle) contained in the measurement sample is so remarkable that it isdifficult to perform reliable analysis to the display portion 4 b of thecontrol unit 4 at the step S17. As the case of making the aforementioneddetermination from the step S22 to the step S17, a case where theanalysis results of the data of the electric signal corresponding to thelight having the wavelength of 800 nm cannot be output in themeasurement item measured with the coagulation time method or the likecan be listed in the first embodiment. If determining that the analysisresults of the measurement sample obtained at the step S21 can be outputat the step S22, on the other hand, the CPU 401 a outputs the analysisresults of the measurement sample to the display portion 4 b of thecontrol unit 4 at a step S23.

The method of analyzing the optical information received from the firstoptical information acquisition portion 40 at the step S15 shown in FIG.13 is now described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13 to 16. The CPU401 a of the control unit 4 analyzes the optical information receivedfrom the first optical information acquisition portion 40. The opticalinformation of the specimen acquired in the first optical informationacquisition portion 40 is transmitted to the control portion 4 a of thecontrol unit 4, so that absorbances of the specimen with respect to thelights of the respective wavelengths (430 nm, 565 nm and 627 nm) arecalculated at a step S31 shown in FIG. 14. The absorbance A is a valueobtained with the light transmittance T (%) of the specimen according tothe following equation (1):A=−log 10(T/100)  (1)

At a step S32, a determination is made as to whether or not theabsorbance of the specimen with respect to the light having thewavelength of 430 nm is greater than 1.5. When it is determined that theabsorbance of the specimen with respect to the light having thewavelength of 430 nm is less than 1.5 at the step S32, the item of thesecondary dispensation flag indicating that the specimen is the objectof secondary dispensation with the ON-state in the specimen analysistable is changed from OFF (“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in the table) ata step S33, and the process returns to the step S16 of FIG. 13. When itis determined that the absorbance of the specimen with respect to thelight having the wavelength of 430 nm is greater than 1.5 at the stepS32, on the other hand, a determination is made at a step S34 as towhether or not the value of “P” is greater than 10. “P” is a valueobtained by “−(absorbance of specimen with respect to light havingwavelength of 565 nm−absorbance of specimen with respect to light havingwavelength of 430 nm)/(565−430)”. When it is determined that the valueof “P” is greater than 10 at the step S34, a determination is made at astep S35 of FIG. 15 as to whether or not the measurement item of thespecimen is a measurement item employing the synthetic substrate method.

When it is determined that the measurement item of the specimen is not ameasurement item employing the synthetic substrate method at the stepS35, the item of the secondary dispensation flag indicating that thespecimen is the object of secondary dispensation with the ON-state inthe specimen analysis table is changed from OFF (“0” in the table) to ON(“1” in the table) at a step S36, and the process returns to the stepS16 of FIG. 13. When it is determined that the measurement item of thespecimen is a measurement item employing the synthetic substrate methodat the step S35, on the other hand, a determination is made at a stepS37 as to whether or not the value of “absorbance with respect to lighthaving wavelength of 430 nm×dilution magnification” is at least 0.2. Thedilution magnification is the dilution magnification of the specimen ina case where a measurement sample of the measurement item has beenprepared from this specimen (when it is determined that this specimen isthe object of secondary dispensation at the step S16, a prescribedquantity of this specimen is dispensed into the corresponding cuvette154 of the secondary dispensation table 23 in response to themeasurement item (step S18), and a prescribed type and a prescribedquantity of reagent is added thereto so that the measurement sample isprepared (step S19). Therefore, the aforementioned dilutionmagnification is previously decided in response to the measurementitem). When it is determined that the value of “absorbance with respectto light having wavelength of 430 nm×dilution magnification” is at least0.2 at the step S37, the flag of the item of bilirubin indicating thatthere is a high possibility that the specimen is influenced by bilirubinwith the ON-state in the specimen analysis table is changed from OFF(“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in the table) at a step S38, and theprocess returns to the step S16 of FIG. 13. When it is determined thatthe value of “absorbance with respect to light having wavelength of 430nm×dilution magnification” is less than 0.2 at the step S37, on theother hand, the items of the secondary dispensation flag indicating thatthe specimen is the object of secondary dispensation with the ON-statein the specimen analysis table, the bilirubin flag indicating that thereis a high possibility that the specimen is influenced by bilirubin withthe ON-state and the high-gain flag indicating that the opticalinformation acquired with the high gain (amplification factor) isregarded as the object of analysis with the ON-state are changed fromOFF (“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in the table) at steps S39, S40 andS41 respectively, and the process returns to the step S16 of FIG. 13.

When it is determined that the value of “P” is less than 10 at the stepS34 shown in FIG. 14, a determination is made at a step S42 as towhether or not the value of “P” is greater than 4. When it is determinedthat the value of “P” is greater than 4 at the step S42, a determinationis made at a step S43 as to whether or not the value of “Q” is greaterthan 1.4. “Q” is a value obtained by “−(absorbance of specimen withrespect to light having wavelength of 627 nm−absorbance of specimen withrespect to light having wavelength of 565 nm)/(627−565)”. When it isdetermined that the value of “Q” is not greater than 1.4 at the stepS43, the process advances to the step S35 of FIG. 15, so that adetermination is made as to whether or not the measurement item of thespecimen is a measurement item employing the synthetic substrate method,as described above. When it is determined that the value of “Q” isgreater than 1.4 at the step S43 of FIG. 14, on the other hand, adetermination is made at a step S44 as to whether or not the measurementitem of the specimen is a measurement item employing the syntheticsubstrate method or immunonephelometry.

When it is determined that the measurement item of the specimen is not ameasurement item employing the synthetic substrate method orimmunonephelometry at the step S44, the item of the secondarydispensation flag indicating that the specimen is the object ofsecondary dispensation with the ON-state in the specimen analysis tableis changed from OFF (“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in the table) at astep S45, and the process returns to the step S16 of FIG. 13. When it isdetermined that the measurement item of the specimen is a measurementitem employing the synthetic substrate method or immunonephelometry atthe step S44, on the other hand, a determination is made at a step S46as to whether or not the value of “absorbance with respect to lighthaving wavelength of 430 nm×dilution magnification” is at least 0.2.When it is determined that the value of “absorbance with respect tolight having wavelength of 430 nm×dilution magnification” is at least0.2 at the step S46, the flag of the item of hemoglobin indicating thatthere is a high possibility that the specimen is influenced byhemoglobin with the ON-state in the specimen analysis table is changedfrom OFF (“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in the table) at a step S47, andthe process returns to the step S16 of FIG. 13. When it is determinedthat the value of “absorbance with respect to light having wavelength of430 nm×dilution magnification” is not at least 0.2 (less than 0.2) atthe step S46, on the other hand, the items of the secondary dispensationflag indicating that the specimen is the object of secondarydispensation with the ON-state in the specimen analysis table, thehemoglobin flag indicating that there is a high possibility that thespecimen is influenced by hemoglobin with the ON-state and the high-gainflag indicating that the optical information acquired with the high gain(amplification factor) is regarded as the object of analysis with theON-state are changed from OFF (“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in thetable) at steps S48, S49 and S50 respectively, and the process returnsto the step S16 of FIG. 13.

When it is determined that the value of “P” is not greater than 4 (lessthan 4) at the step S42, on the other hand, a determination is made at astep S51 of FIG. 16 as to whether or not the value of “Q” is less than1.4. When it is determined that the value of “Q” is not less than 1.4(greater than 1.4) at the step S51, all of the three flags of bilirubin,hemoglobin and chyle of the interference substance flags in the specimenanalysis table are changed from OFF (“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in thetable) at a step S52, and set to indicate that the influence by theinterference substance is so remarkable that it is difficult todetermine which one of bilirubin, hemoglobin and chyle influences thecorresponding specimen. Then, the process returns to the step S16 ofFIG. 13. When it is determined that the value of “Q” is less than 1.4 atthe step S51, on the other hand, a determination is made at a step S53as to whether or not the measurement item of the specimen is ameasurement item employing the synthetic substrate method orimmunonephelometry. When it is determined that the measurement item ofthe specimen is not a measurement item employing the synthetic substratemethod or immunonephelometry at the step S53, the items of the secondarydispensation flag indicating that the specimen is the object ofsecondary dispensation with the ON-state in the specimen analysis table,the chyle flag indicating that there is a high possibility that thespecimen is influenced by chyle with the ON-state, the wavelength changeflag indicating that the optical information acquired with the lighthaving the wavelength (800 nm) different from the light having thenormal wavelength (660 nm) is regarded as the object of analysis withthe ON-state and the high-gain flag indicating that the opticalinformation acquired with the high gain (amplification factor) isregarded as the object of analysis with the ON-state are changed fromOFF (“0” in the table) to ON (“1” in the table) at steps S54, S55, S56and S57 respectively, and the process returns to the step S16 of FIG.13. When it is determined that the measurement item of the specimen is ameasurement item employing the synthetic substrate method orimmunonephelometry at the step S53, on the other hand, a determinationis made at a step S58 as to whether or not “absorbance with respect tolight having wavelength of 430 nm×dilution magnification” is at least0.2.

When it is determined that “absorbance with respect to light havingwavelength of 430 nm×dilution magnification” is at least 0.2 at the stepS58, the flag of the item of chyle indicating that there is a highpossibility that the specimen is influenced by chyle with the ON-statein the specimen analysis table is changed from OFF (“0” in the table) toON (“1” in the table) at a step S59, and the process returns to the stepS16 of FIG. 13. When it is determined that “absorbance with respect tolight having wavelength of 430 nm×dilution magnification” is not atleast 0.2 (less than 0.2) at the step S58, on the other hand, the itemsof the secondary dispensation flag indicating that the specimen is theobject of secondary dispensation with the ON-state in the specimenanalysis table, the chyle flag indicating that there is a highpossibility that the specimen is influenced by chyle with the ON-stateand the high-gain flag indicating that the optical information acquiredwith the high gain (amplification factor) is regarded as the object ofanalysis with the ON-state are changed from OFF (“0” in the table) to ON(“1” in the table) at steps S60, S61 and S62 respectively, and theprocess returns to the step S16 of FIG. 13.

According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, thespecimen dispensation arm 30 sampling the specimen stored in each testtube 150 into the cuvette 153 held in the holding portion 24 a of theprimary dispensation table 24 while sampling part of the specimensampled into the cuvette 153 held in the holding portion 24 a of theprimary dispensation table 24 into the cuvette 154 held in the holdingportion 23 a of the secondary dispensation table 23, whereby only partof the specimen sampled into the cuvette 153 may be sampled into thecuvette 154 so that the specimen stored in the test tube 150 may not besampled in measurement or remeasurement with the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 70. Thus, the test tube 150 from whichthe specimen has been sampled may not be put on standby around thespecimen analyzing apparatus 1, whereby the degree of freedom inhandling of the test tube 150 from which the sample has been sampled canbe improved.

According to the first embodiment, the control portion 4 b of thecontrol unit 4 determining whether or not the specimen in the cuvette153 held in the holding portion 24 a of the primary dispensation table24 is the object of secondary dispensation on the basis of the analysisresults of the optical information acquired by the first opticalinformation acquisition portion 40 is so provided that the secondoptical information acquisition portion 70 acquires optical informationonly when correct analysis can be performed in the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 70. Thus, no useless analysis may beperformed, whereby analytical efficiency can be inhibited fromreduction.

According to the first embodiment, the specimen is sucked from the testtube 150 by passing the nozzle 35 of the specimen dispensation arm 30through the recess portion 152 a of the lid 152 while the specimenanalyzing apparatus 1 samples the specimen from the cuvette 153 held inthe holding portion 24 a of the primary dispensation table 24 into thecuvette 154 held in the holding portion 23 a of the secondarydispensation table 23 and reanalyzes the specimen sampled into thecuvette 154 when it is necessary to reanalyze the same specimen, wherebythe nozzle 35 may not be passed through the lid 152 of the test tube 150at the time of the reanalysis. Thus, fragments of the lid 152 of thetest tube 150 can be inhibited from entering the test tube 150 orclogging the nozzle 35 due to the operation of repassing the nozzle 35through the lid 152 of the test tube 150, whereby precision in thequantity of suction can be inhibited from reduction when the specimen issucked from the test tube 150 by the prescribed constant quantity.

According to the first embodiment, the lamp portion 73 emitting thelights having the five different wavelengths is so provided that thelamp portion 73 can apply the lights having the five differentwavelengths to the measurement sample, whereby a plurality of types ofelectric signals can be obtained through the photoelectric conversionelement 74 and the A/D converter 77. Thus, the optical information canbe easily acquired from the measurement sample under a plurality ofconditions.

According to the first embodiment, the amplification portion 76including the amplifier (L) 76 a having the prescribed gain(amplification factor), the amplifier (H) 76 b having the higher gain(amplification factor) than the amplifier (L) 76 a and the changeoverswitch 76 c selecting whether to output the electric signals receivedfrom the amplifier (H) 76 b to the A/D converter 77 or to output theelectric signals received from the amplifier (H) 76 b to the A/Dconverter 77 is so provided that the electric signals converted by thephotoelectric conversion element 74 can be input in and amplified by theamplifier (L) 76 a and the amplifier (H) 76 b having differentamplification factors. Thus, a plurality of types of electric signalscan be obtained through the A/D converter 77, whereby the opticalinformation can be easily acquired from the measurement sample under aplurality of conditions.

Second Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 17 to 27, a specimen analyzing apparatus 201comprising a lamp unit 250 employed in common for a first opticalinformation acquisition portion 240 and a second optical informationacquisition portion 270 dissimilarly to the aforementioned firstembodiment is described in this second embodiment. A coagulation timemethod employed in the second embodiment is a measuring method detectingthe process of coagulation of a specimen as a change of transmittedlight. As measurement items subjected to measurement with thecoagulation time method, there are PT (prothrombin time), APTT(activated partial thromboplastin time), Fbg (fibrinogen quantity) andthe like.

The specimen analyzing apparatus 201 is constituted of a detectionmechanism portion 202, a transport mechanism portion 3 arranged on thefront side of the detection mechanism portion 202 and a control unit 4electrically connected to the detection mechanism portion 202, as shownin FIG. 17. The transport mechanism portion 3 and the control unit 4 ofthe specimen analyzing apparatus 201 according to the second embodimentare similar in structure to those of the aforementioned firstembodiment, and hence redundant description thereof is omitted.

The detection mechanism portion 202 according to this second embodimentcomprises a cuvette supply portion 10, a rotational transport portion20, a specimen dispensation arm 30, the first optical informationacquisition portion 240, the lamp unit 250, two reagent dispensationarms 50, a cuvette transfer portion 60, the second optical informationacquisition portion 270, an emergency specimen set portion 80, a cuvettedisposal portion 90 and a fluid portion 100, as shown in FIGS. 17 and18. The structures of the cuvette supply portion 10, the rotationaltransport portion 20, the specimen dispensation arm 30, the reagentdispensation arms 50, the cuvette transfer portion 60, the emergencyspecimen set portion 80, the cuvette disposal portion 90 and the fluidportion 100 of the detection mechanism portion 202 according to thesecond embodiment are similar the structures of those of the detectionmechanism portion 2 according to the aforementioned first embodiment.

The first optical information acquisition portion 240 is so formed as toacquire optical information from each specimen, in order to measurepresence/absence of interference substances (chyle, hemoglobin andbilirubin) in the specimen and concentrations thereof before addition ofreagents. More specifically, the first optical information acquisitionportion 240 measures presence/absence of the interference substances andthe concentrations thereof with four types of lights (405 nm, 575 nm,660 nm and 800 nm) among five types of lights (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm,660 nm and 800 nm) emitted from the lamp unit 250 described later.

In the first optical information acquisition portion 240 according tothe second embodiment, a branched optical fiber 258 of the lamp unit 250described later is guided as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, dissimilarly tothe light-emitting diode (LED) 41 (see FIG. 5) of the first opticalinformation acquisition portion 40 according to the first embodiment.The five types of lights applied from the branched optical fiber 258 areapplied to the specimen stored in a cuvette 152 held in each holdingportion 24 a of a primary dispensation table 24, to be transmittedthrough the specimen stored in this cuvette 152 and thereafter detectedby a photoelectric conversion element 43 through a slit 47 a of a lidmember 47. As shown in FIG. 21, electric signals generated in thephotoelectric conversion element 43 are converted to digital signals byan A/D converter 46 c, and transmitted to the control portion 4 a of thecontrol unit 4. The control portion 4 a of the control unit 4 obtainsthe absorbance and analyzes presence/absence of the interferencesubstances in the specimen and the concentrations thereof with thereceived digital signals. According to the second embodiment, whether ornot to analyze optical information measured in the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 270 described later is determined on thebasis of presence/absence of the interference substances in the specimenand the concentrations thereof.

According to the second embodiment, the lamp unit 250 is provided forsupplying the lights employed for optical measurement performed in thefirst optical information acquisition portion 240 and the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 270, as shown in FIG. 18. In otherwords, the single lamp unit 250 is formed to be employed in common forthe first optical information acquisition portion 240 and the secondoptical information acquisition portion 270. This lamp unit 250 isconstituted of a halogen lamp 251 serving as a light source, condensinglenses 252 a to 252 c, a discoidal filter portion 253, a motor 254, alight transmission type sensor 255, an optical fiber coupler 256, 11branched optical fibers 257 (see FIG. 23) and the single branchedoptical fiber 258 (see FIG. 23), as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23.

The halogen lamp 251 is stored in a lamp case 251 a having a pluralityof fins for cooling the air heated by heat generation of the halogenlamp 251, as shown in FIG. 22.

The condensing lenses 252 a to 252 c have a function of condensinglights emitted from the halogen lamp 251. The condensing lenses 252 a to252 c are arranged on optical paths guiding the lights emitted from thehalogen lamp 251 to the optical fiber coupler 256. The lights emittedfrom the halogen lamp 251 and condensed by the condensing lenses 252 ato 252 c are transmitted through any one of optical filters 253 b to 253f of the filter portion 253 described later and guided to the opticalfiber coupler 256.

The filter portion 253 of the lamp unit 250 is mounted to be rotatableabout the motor shaft (not shown) of the motor 254, as shown in FIG. 24.This filter portion 253 includes a filter plate 253 a provided with thefive optical filters 253 b to 253 f having different light transmissioncharacteristics (transmission wavelengths) respectively. The filterplate 253 a is provided with five holes 253 g for mounting the opticalfilters 253 b to 253 f and a hole 253 h so blocked up as not to transmitany light. The five optical filters 253 b, 253 c, 253 d, 253 e and 253 fhaving different light transmission characteristics (transmissionwavelengths) are set in the five holes 253 g respectively. These holes253 g and 253 h are provided at prescribed angular intervals (regularintervals of 60° in the second embodiment) along the rotationaldirection of the filter portion 253. The hole 253 h is a preliminaryhole, and mounted with a filter when addition of the filter isnecessary.

The optical filters 253 b, 253 c, 253 d, 253 e and 253 f transmit thelights having the wavelengths of 340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm and 800nm respectively, and do not transmit lights of other wavelengths.Therefore, lights transmitted through the optical filters 253 b, 253 c,253 d, 253 e and 253 f have the wavelength characteristics of 340 nm,405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm and 800 nm respectively.

Further, the filter plate 253 a is provided with six slits at prescribedangular intervals (regular intervals of 60° in the second embodiment)along the circumferential direction. One of these six slits is an originslit 253 j having a larger slit width than the remaining five normalslits 253 i in the rotational direction of the filter plate 253 a. Theorigin slit 253 j and the normal slits 253 i are formed on intermediateangle positions between the adjacent holes 253 g and 253 h at prescribedangular intervals (regular intervals of 60° in the second embodiment).

According to the second embodiment, the filter portion 253 is so formedas to continuously rotate when the lamp unit 250 applies the lights toeach cuvette 152 of the primary dispensation table 24. Following therotation of the filter plate 253 a, therefore, the five optical filters253 b to 253 f having different light transmission characteristics andthe single shielded hole 253 h (see FIG. 21) are intermittentlysuccessively arranged on the optical paths of the lights condensed bythe condensing lenses 252 a to 252 c (see FIG. 20). Therefore, the fivetypes of lights having different wavelength characteristics areintermittently successively applied.

The light transmission type sensor 255 is provided for detecting passageof the origin slit 253 j and the normal slits 253 i following therotation of the filter portion 253, as shown in FIG. 24. When the originslit 253 j and the normal slits 253 i pass this sensor 255, aphotoreceiving portion detects the lights from the light source throughthe slits and outputs detection signals. The origin slit 253 j has thelarger slit width than the normal slits 253 i, whereby the detectionsignal output from the sensor 255 upon passage of the origin slit 253 jhas a longer output period than the detection signals output uponpassage of the normal slits 253 i. Therefore, it is possible to monitorwhether or not the filter portion 253 normally rotates on the basis ofthe detection signals received from the sensor 255.

The optical fiber coupler 256 has a function of introducing the lights,passed through the optical filters 253 b to 253 f, into the respectiveones of the 11 branched optical fibers 257 and the single branchedoptical fiber 258. In other words, the optical fiber coupler 256simultaneously guides homogeneous lights to the 11 branched opticalfibers 257 and the single branched optical fiber 258. The forward endsof the 11 branched optical fibers 257 are connected to the secondoptical information acquisition portion 270 as shown in FIG. 18, forguiding the lights received from the lamp unit 250 to a measurementsample stored in each cuvette 152 set on the second optical informationacquisition portion 270. More specifically, the 11 branched opticalfibers 257 are so arranged as to supply the lights to 10 insertion holes271 a and one reference light measuring hole 271 b, described later, ofthe second optical information acquisition portion 270 respectively, asshown in FIG. 25. The forward end of the single branched optical fiber258 is connected to the first optical information acquisition portion240 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 dissimilarly to the 11 branched opticalfibers 257, for guiding the lights received from the lamp unit 250 tothe specimen stored in the cuvette 152 held in the holding portion 24 aof the primary dispensation table 24. Therefore, the five types oflights having different wavelength characteristics, intermittentlypassed through the optical filters 253 b to 253 f, are supplied to therespective ones of the first optical information acquisition portion 240and the second optical information acquisition portion 270 through thebranched optical fibers 257 and 258.

The second optical information acquisition portion 270 has a functionfor heating the measurement sample prepared by adding reagents to thespecimen and measuring optical information from the measurement sample.This second optical information acquisition portion 270 is constitutedof a cuvette receiving portion 271 and a detection portion 272 arrangedunder the cuvette receiving portion 271, as shown in FIG. 18. Thecuvette receiving portion 271 is provided with the 10 insertion holes271 a for inserting the cuvettes 152 (see FIG. 18) and the singlereference light measuring hole 271 b for measuring a reference lightwithout receiving any cuvette 152, as shown in FIG. 25. Further, thecuvette receiving portion 271 stores a heating mechanism (not shown) forheating the cuvettes 152 inserted into the insertion holes 271 a to aprescribed temperature.

According to the second embodiment, the reference light measuring hole271 b is provided for monitoring the characteristics of the lightsapplied from the branched optical fibers 257. More specifically, thereference light measuring hole 271 b introduces the lights applied fromthe branched optical fibers 257 directly into a reference lightphotoelectric conversion element 272 e of the detection portion 272,thereby detecting characteristics such as fluctuation derived from thehalogen lamp 251 (see FIG. 22) of the lamp unit 250 as electric signals.The detected characteristics (electric signals) of the lights aresubtracted from signals corresponding to lights transmitted through themeasurement sample stored in each cuvette 152 inserted into thecorresponding insertion hole 271 a, thereby correcting the signalscorresponding to the lights transmitted through the measurement sample.Thus, occurrence of small differences resulting from the characteristicsof the lights can be suppressed every measurement of opticalinformation.

The detection portion 272 of the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 is enabled to perform optical measurement (main measurement)on the measurement sample stored in the cuvette 152 inserted into theinsertion hole 271 a under a plurality of conditions. This detectionportion 272 is provided with collimator lenses 272 a, photoelectricconversion elements 272 b and preamplifiers 272 c correspondingly to therespective insertion holes 271 a into which the cuvettes 152 areinserted, and provided with a reference light collimator lens 272 d, areference light photoelectric conversion element 272 e and a referencelight preamplifier 272 f correspondingly to the reference lightmeasuring hole 271 b (see FIG. 25), as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26.

The collimator lenses 272 a are set between ends of the branched opticalfibers 257 inducing the lights received from the lamp unit 250 (see FIG.22) and the corresponding insertion holes 271 a, as shown in FIGS. 25and 26. These collimator lenses 272 a are provided for parallelizing thelights applied from the branched optical fibers 257. The photoelectricconversion elements 272 b are mounted on surfaces of substrates 273,opposed to ends of the branched optical fibers 257 through the insertionholes 271 a, closer to the insertion holes 271 a. The photoelectricconversion elements 272 b have a function of detecting the lights(hereinafter referred to as transmitted lights) transmitted through themeasurement samples when the lights are applied to the measurementsamples stored in the cuvettes 152 inserted into the insertion holes 271a and outputting electric signals (analog signals) corresponding to thedetected transmitted lights. These photoelectric conversion elements 272b are so arranged as to receive the five types of lights applied fromthe branched optical fibers 257 of the lamp unit 250. The light havingthe wavelength of 405 nm applied from the branched optical fibers 257 isa main wavelength employed for measuring Fbg (fibrinogen quantity). Thelight having the wavelength of 660 nm is a main wavelength employed formeasuring PT (prothrombin time) and APTT (activated partialthromboplastin time), and also a sub wavelength employed for measuringFbg. The light having the wavelength of 800 nm is a sub wavelengthemployed for measuring PT and APTT.

The preamplifiers 272 c are mounted on surfaces of the substrates 273opposite to the insertion holes 271 a, and provided for amplifying theelectric signals (analog signals) received from the photoelectricconversion elements 272 b.

Each substrate 273 is provided with an amplification portion 76, an A/Dconverter 77, a logger 78 and a controller 79 in addition to theaforementioned photoelectric conversion elements 272 b (reference lightphotoelectric conversion element 272 e) and the preamplifiers 272 c(reference light preamplifier 272 f), as shown in FIG. 27. Theamplification portion 76 includes an amplifier (L) 76 a having aprescribed gain (amplification factor), an amplifier (H) 76 b having ahigher gain (amplification factor) than the amplifier (L) 76 a and achangeover switch 76 c.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart showing the procedure of a specimen analyzingoperation of the specimen analyzing apparatus according to the secondembodiment shown in FIG. 17. The specimen analyzing operation of thespecimen analyzing apparatus 201 is now described in detail withreference to FIGS. 17 to 21, 22, 24, 26 and 28.

First, the power sources of the detection mechanism portion 202 and thecontrol unit 4 of the specimen analyzing apparatus 201 shown in FIG. 17are brought into ON-states respectively, thereby initializing thespecimen analyzing apparatus 201. Thus, an operation for returning amechanism for moving each cuvette 152 and the respective dispensationarms to initial positions, initialization of software stored in thecontrol portion 4 a of the control unit 4 etc. are performed.

The transport mechanism portion 3 shown in FIG. 18 transports a rack 151receiving test tubes 150 storing the specimens. Thus, the rack 151 of arack set region 3 a is transported to a position corresponding to asuctional position 2 a of the detection mechanism portion 202.

At a step S101, the specimen dispensation arm 30 sucks a prescribedquantity of specimen from each test tube 150. Then, the specimendispensation arm 30 is moved to a position above the correspondingcuvette 152 held on the primary dispensation table 24 of the rotationaltransport portion 20. Thereafter the specimen dispensation arm 30discharges the specimen into the cuvette 152 of the primary dispensationtable 24, so that the specimen is sampled into the cuvette 152.

The primary dispensation table 24 is rotated for transporting thecuvette 152 into which the specimen has been dispensed to a positionallowing measurement with the first optical information acquisitionportion 240. Thus, the first optical information acquisition portion 240optically measures the specimen and acquires optical information fromthe specimen at a step S102. More specifically, the photoelectricconversion element 43 successively detects the five types (340 nm, 405nm, 575 nm, 660 nm and 800 nm) of lights transmitted through thespecimen stored in the cuvette 152 held in each holding portion 24 a(see FIG. 20) of the primary dispensation table 24. A preamplifier 45 a(see FIG. 21) and an amplifier 45 e amplify the electric signalsdetected by the photoelectric conversion element 43, while the A/Dconverter 45 c converts the same to digital signals. Thereafter acontroller 45 d transmits the data of the digital signals to the controlportion 4 a of the control unit 4. Thus, the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 completes acquisition of optical information(first optical information) with respect to the specimen.

After the acquisition of the optical information (first opticalinformation) at the step S102, a CPU 401 a determines whether or not anabsorbance at the main wavelength calculated from the first opticalinformation measured in the first optical information acquisitionportion 240 is less than a threshold at a step S103. More specifically,if the inspection item of the specimen is “PT”, a determination is madeas to whether or not an absorbance calculated from first opticalinformation measured by applying the light having 660 nm which is themain wavelength for “PT” is less than a threshold (2.0, for example).Similarly, if the inspection item of the specimen is “APTT”, adetermination is made as to whether or not an absorbance calculated fromfirst optical information measured by applying the light having 660 nmwhich is the main wavelength for “APTT” is less than a threshold (2.0,for example). If the inspection item of the specimen is “ATIII”, adetermination is made as to whether or not an absorbance calculated fromfirst optical information measured by applying the light having 405 nmwhich is the main wavelength for “ATIII” is less than a threshold (2.0,for example).

If the absorbance at the main wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 is less than the threshold at the step S103, theCPU 401 a sets an analytic wavelength for analyzing second opticalinformation to the main wavelength at a step S104. At a step S105, thespecimen dispensation arm 30 sucks a prescribed quantity of the specimenfrom the cuvette 152 held in the holding portion 24 a of the primarydispensation table 24. Thereafter the specimen dispensation arm 30discharges the prescribed quantity of the specimen into a plurality ofcuvettes 152 of the secondary dispensation table 23 respectively, sothat secondary dispensation processing is performed. Then, the reagentdispensation arms 50 are driven for adding reagents stored in reagentcontainers (not shown) placed on reagent tables 21 and 22 to thespecimens stored in the cuvettes 152 of the secondary dispensation table23. Thus, measurement samples are prepared. Then, the cuvettes 152 ofthe secondary dispensation table 23 storing the measurement samples aremoved into the insertion holes 271 a of the cuvette receiving portion271 of the second optical information acquisition portion 270 with thecuvette transfer portion 60.

At a step S106, the detection portion 272 of the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 270 performs optical measurement (mainmeasurement) on the measurement sample in each cuvette 152 under aplurality of conditions, thereby acquiring a plurality (10 types) ofoptical information (second optical information) from the measurementsample. More specifically, the cuvette 152 inserted into the insertionhole 271 a of the cuvette receiving portion 271 is heated by the heatingmechanism (not shown) to the prescribed temperature. Thereafter eachbranched optical fiber 257 of the lamp unit 250 applies lights to thecuvette 152 of the cuvette receiving portion 271, as shown in FIG. 26.The branched optical fiber 257 periodically applies lights of fivedifferent wavelengths (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm and 800 nm) due tothe rotation of the filter portion 253 (see FIG. 24). The lights of theaforementioned respective wavelengths applied from the branched opticalfiber 257 and transmitted through the cuvette 152 and the measurementsample stored in the cuvette 152 are successively detected by thecorresponding photoelectric conversion element 272 b. Electric signalscorresponding to the lights of five different wavelengths converted bythe photoelectric conversion element 272 b are amplified by thecorresponding preamplifier 272 c, and thereafter successively input inthe amplification portion 76.

In the amplification portion 76, the electric signals corresponding tothe lights of five different wavelengths received from the preamplifier272 c (see FIG. 27) are input in the amplifier (H) 76 b having the highamplification factor and the amplifier (L) 76 a having the normalamplification factor respectively. The controller 79 controls thechangeover switch 76 c, so that the electric signals amplified by theamplifier (H) 76 b are output to the A/D converter 77, and the electricsignals amplified by the amplifier (L) 76 a are thereafter output to theA/D converter 77. The changeover switch 76 c is repetitively switched inresponse to the timing of rotation of the filter portion 253 (see FIG.24) in the lamp unit 250. Thus, the amplification portion 76 amplifiesthe electric signals corresponding to the lights of five differentwavelengths with two different amplification factors respectively, andrepetitively outputs 10 types of electric signals in total to the A/Dconverter 77. The 10 types of electric signals are converted to digitalsignals by the A/D converter 77, temporarily stored in the logger 78,and thereafter successively transmitted to the control portion 4 a ofthe control unit 4. Thus, the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 completes acquisition of the plurality (10 types) of opticalinformation (second optical information) with respect to the measurementsample.

If the absorbance at the main wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 is greater than the threshold at the step S103,on the other hand, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not an absorbanceat the sub wavelength calculated from the first optical informationmeasured in the first optical information acquisition portion 240 isless than a threshold at a step S107. More specifically, if theinspection item of the specimen is “PT”, a determination is made as towhether or not an absorbance calculated from the first opticalinformation measured by applying the light having 800 nm which is thesub wavelength for “PT” is less than a threshold (2.0, for example).Similarly, if the inspection item of the specimen is “APTT”, adetermination is made as to whether or not an absorbance calculated fromthe first optical information measured by applying the light having 800nm which is the sub wavelength for “APTT” is less than a threshold (2.0,for example). If the inspection item of the specimen is “ATIII”, adetermination is made as to whether or not an absorbance calculated fromthe first optical information measured by applying the light having 660nm which is the sub wavelength for “ATIII” is less than a threshold(2.0, for example).

If the absorbance at the sub wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 is less than the threshold at the step S107, theCPU 401 a sets the analytic wavelength for analyzing the second opticalinformation to the sub wavelength at a step S108. At steps S109 andS110, the second optical information acquisition portion 270 acquires aplurality (10 types) of optical information (second optical information)with respect to the measurement sample, similarly to the aforementionedsteps S105 and S106.

If the absorbance at the sub wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 is greater than the threshold at the step S107,on the other hand, the CPU 401 a determines that it is difficult toperform reliable analysis due to remarkable influences by interferencesubstances (bilirubin, hemoglobin and chyle) contained in the specimen,for stopping the main measurement and terminating the processing. Thus,no reagents are added to an unanalyzable specimen remarkably influencedby the interference substances for preparing a measurement sample,whereby the reagents can be inhibited from wasting. As a case where itis difficult to perform reliable measurement (case of stopping the mainmeasurement), a case where the lights transmitted through the specimenare blocked due to presence of large quantities of interferencesubstances in the specimen detected by the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 and the transmitted lights transmitted throughthe specimen cannot be substantially detected or the like can be listed.

After the acquisition of the second optical information (mainmeasurement) with the second optical information acquisition portion 270at the aforementioned step S106, second optical information of themeasurement sample measured at the main wavelength set to the analyticwavelength is transmitted to the control portion 4 a of the control unit4 from among the plurality of second optical information measured in thesecond optical information acquisition portion 270 and analyzed by theCPU 401 a at a step S111. If the inspection item of the specimen is“PT”, for example, the second optical information measured by applyingthe light having 660 nm which is the main wavelength for “PT” is firsttransmitted to the control portion 4 a of the control unit 4. Thereafterthe CPU 401 a receiving the second optical information acquired at themain wavelength outputs analysis results on the basis of the secondoptical information.

Similarly, after the acquisition of the second optical information (mainmeasurement) with the second optical information acquisition portion 270at the aforementioned step S110, second optical information of themeasurement sample measured at the sub wavelength set to the analyticwavelength is transmitted to the control portion 4 a of the control unit4 from among the plurality of second optical information measured in thesecond optical information acquisition portion 270 and analyzed by theCPU 401 a at a step S112. More specifically, if the inspection item ofthe specimen is “PT”, second optical information measured by applyingthe light having 800 nm which is the sub wavelength for “PT” is firsttransmitted to the control portion 4 a of the control unit 4. Thereafterthe CPU 401 a receiving the second optical information acquired at thesub wavelength outputs analysis results on the basis of the secondoptical information.

After the analysis with the CPU 401 a of the control unit 4 at the stepsS111 and S112 is completed, the CPU 401 a displays the analysis resultsobtained at the aforementioned step S111 or the step S112 on a displayportion 4 b of the control unit 4 at a step S113. Thus, the specimenanalyzing operation of the specimen analyzing apparatus 201 isterminated.

Qualitative determination related to interference substances is nowdescribed. The control portion 4 a of the control unit 4 calculates theabsorbance of the specimen with the data (first optical information) ofthe received digital signals, and calculates presence/absence ofinterference substances (chyle, hemoglobin and bilirubin) in thespecimen and concentrations thereof. More specifically, the controlportion 4 a of the control unit 4 calculates the absorbance of thespecimen and calculates presence/absence of interference substances(chyle, hemoglobin and bilirubin) and concentrations thereof on thebasis of optical information (first optical information) acquired withfour types (405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm and 800 nm) of lights emitted fromthe lamp unit 250 (see FIG. 22).

On the basis of the calculated presence/absence and concentrations ofinterference substances in the specimen, the interference substances arequalitatively determined. As this qualitative determination, there arenegativity “−” indicating that the specimen contains substantially nointerference substances, weak positivity “+” indicating that thespecimen contains prescribed quantities of interference substances andstrong positivity “++” indicating that the specimen contains largequantities of interference substances. The results of such qualitativedetermination are displayed on the display portion 4 b of the controlunit 4 along with the analysis results obtained at the aforementionedstep S111 or the step S112. According to the second embodiment, ashereinabove described, the control portion 4 a of the control unit 4 hasthe structure of comparing the absorbances at the main wavelength andthe sub wavelength calculated from the first optical informationmeasured in the first optical information acquisition portion 240 withthe thresholds thereby selecting the wavelength employed for analysisand determining whether or not to stop the main measurement, while thepresent invention is not restricted to this but the control portion 4 amay alternatively select the wavelength employed for analysis anddetermine whether or not to stop the main measurement with the resultsof qualitative determination on the interference substances obtained inthe aforementioned manner. The light having the wavelength of 405 nm isa light absorbed by any of chyle, hemoglobin and bilirubin, as shown inFIGS. 29 to 31. In other words, influences by chyle, hemoglobin andbilirubin contribute to the optical information measured with the lighthaving the wavelength of 405 nm. Further, the light having thewavelength of 575 nm is a light substantially not absorbed by bilirubinbut absorbed by chyle and hemoglobin. In other words, influences bychyle and hemoglobin contribute to the optical information measured withthe light having the wavelength of 575 nm. In addition, the lightshaving the wavelengths of 660 nm and 800 nm are lights substantially notabsorbed by bilirubin and hemoglobin but absorbed by chyle. In otherwords, an influence by chyle contributes to the optical informationmeasured with the lights having the wavelengths of 660 nm and 800 nm. Asshown in FIG. 31, chyle absorbs the lights of the wavelengths from 405nm in a low wave range up to 800 nm in a high wave range, and the lighthaving the wavelength of 660 nm is more absorbed by chyle as comparedwith the light having the wavelength of 800 nm. In other words, theoptical information measured with the light having the wavelength of 800nm is less influenced by chyle than the optical information measuredwith the light having the wavelength of 660 nm. Wavelengths exhibitinglarge absorption vary with such interference substances (chyle,hemoglobin and bilirubin), whereby it is possible to select thewavelength employed for analysis and to determine whether or not to stopthe main measurement in response to the types of the interferencesubstances contained in the specimen as a result of the qualitativedetermination. Alternatively, whether or not there are influences by theinterference substances may be qualitatively determined everymeasurement wavelength, without performing the qualitative determinationevery interference substance. In this case, a wavelength determined asbeing substantially not influenced by the interference substances may beused for analysis, so that wavelengths determined as being influenced bythe interference substances are not employed for analysis.

According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the lampunit 250 supplying the lights applied to each specimen in the firstoptical information acquisition portion 240 and the lights applied toeach measurement sample in the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 is so provided that the lights can be supplied to both ofthe specimen in the first optical information acquisition portion 240and the measurement sample in the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 with the single lamp unit 250. Thus, the lamp unit 250 forsupplying the lights to the specimen in the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 and the measurement sample in the second opticalinformation acquisition portion 270 can be employed in common, wherebythe specimen analyzing apparatus 201 can be inhibited from sizeincrease.

According to the second embodiment, the lamp unit 250 supplying thelights applied to each specimen in the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 and the lights applied to each measurementsample in the second optical information acquisition portion 270 is soprovided that substantially homogeneous lights can be supplied to thespecimen in the first optical information acquisition portion 240 andthe measurement sample in the second optical information acquisitionportion 270. Thus, the second optical information acquired from themeasurement sample in the second optical information acquisition portion270 can be correctly estimated from the first optical informationacquired from the specimen in the first optical information acquisitionportion 240. When the second optical information of the object ofanalysis is selected from a plurality of second optical information onthe basis of the first optical information acquired from the specimen,therefore, any analyzable specimen can be inhibited from being displacedfrom the object of analysis. Consequently, the number of analyzablespecimens can be increased.

According to the second embodiment, the lamp unit 250 is provided withthe halogen lamp 251, the single branched optical fiber 258 guiding thelights emitted from the halogen lamp 251 to the specimen in the firstoptical information acquisition portion 240 and the 11 branched opticalfibers 257 guiding the lights emitted from the halogen lamp 251 to themeasurement sample in the second optical information acquisition portion270, whereby substantially homogeneous lights emitted from the halogenlamp 251 can be easily induced to both of the first optical informationacquisition portion 240 and the second optical information acquisitionportion 270.

According to the second embodiment, the filter portion 253 including thefive optical filters 253 b to 253 f having different light transmissioncharacteristics (transmission wavelengths) is so provided that lightshaving a plurality of wavelengths can be supplied to the first opticalinformation acquisition portion 240 and the second optical informationacquisition portion 270 respectively. Thus, a plurality of first opticalinformation can be acquired by applying the lights having the pluralityof wavelengths to the specimen in the first optical informationacquisition portion 240, and a plurality of second optical informationcan be acquired by applying the lights having the plurality ofwavelengths to the specimen in the second optical informationacquisition portion 270. Consequently, the measurement sample can bemeasured at a proper wavelength also when the wavelength suitable formeasurement of the measurement sample varies with the types of thereagents added to the specimen and the measurement items (PT(prothrombin time), APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) and Fbg(fibrinogen quantity)).

If the measurement item of the specimen analyzed in the specimenanalyzing apparatus 201 according to the second embodiment is “PT”,second optical information of the measurement sample acquired with thelight having the wavelength (sub wavelength) of 800 nm is analyzed atthe step S112 when the absorbance of the specimen acquired with thelight having the wavelength of 660 nm (main wavelength) is greater thanthe threshold (2.0, for example) and the absorbance of the specimenacquired with the light having the wavelength (sub wavelength) of 800 nmis less than the threshold (2.0, for example), whereby the secondoptical information acquired with the wavelength of 800 nm substantiallynot influenced by the interference substances (hemoglobin and bilirubin)can be analyzed. Consequently, occurrence of an analytic error resultingfrom interference substances present in the specimen in analysis of thesecond optical information can be suppressed.

According to the second embodiment, measurement is stopped at the stepS111 when the absorbance of the specimen acquired with the light havingthe wavelength of 660 nm (main wavelength) is greater than the threshold(2.0, for example) and the absorbance of the specimen acquired with thelight having the wavelength (sub wavelength) of 800 nm is greater thanthe threshold (2.0, for example) so that no reagents are added to aspecimen from which reliable results cannot be obtained, whereby thereagents can be inhibited from wasting. Further, no second opticalinformation is acquired from a specimen from which reliable resultscannot be obtained, whereby analytical efficiency can also be improved.

The embodiments disclosed this time must be considered as illustrativeand not restrictive in all points. The range of the present invention isshown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scopeof claim for patent, and all modifications within the meaning and rangeequivalent to the scope of claim for patent are included.

For example, while the example of forming the amplification portion 76of the detection portion 72 of the second optical informationacquisition portion 70 by the amplifier (L) 76 a having the prescribedgain (amplification factor), the amplifier (H) 76 b having the highergain (amplification factor) than the amplifier (L) 76 a and thechangeover switch 76 c selecting whether to output the electric signalsreceived from the amplifier (L) 76 a to the A/D converter 77 or tooutput the electric signals received from the amplifier (H) 76 b to theA/D converter 77 as shown in FIG. 8 has been shown in the aforementionedfirst embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this but anamplification portion 176 of a detection portion 172 of a second opticalinformation acquisition portion 170 may be formed by an amplifier 176 aand an electronic volume 176 b, as in a modification shown in FIG. 32.In this case, the amplifier 176 a of the amplification portion 176 is soformed that the gain (amplification factor) of the amplifier 176 a canbe adjusted by inputting a control signal from a controller 79 in theelectronic volume 176 b. When the controller 79 controls the electronicvolume 176 b in coincidence with the timing of rotation of a filtermember 73 c in a lamp portion 73 in such a structure, electric signalscorresponding to respective lights having different wavelengths emittedfrom the lamp portion 73 can be amplified with a plurality of differentgains (amplification factors).

While the example of acquiring all of the 10 types of opticalinformation (data of digital signals) from the second opticalinformation acquisition portion including the lamp portion emitting thefive lights of different wavelengths and the amplification portionamplifying the electric signals with the two different amplificationfactors while selecting the second optical information determined assuitable for analysis from among the acquired 10 types of second opticalinformation and analyzing the same on the basis of the analysis resultsof the first optical information received from the first opticalinformation acquisition portion has been shown in the aforementionedfirst embodiment, the present invention is not restricted to this butthe filter portion 253 in the second embodiment may be renderedstoppable at an arbitrary angle thereby selecting one of the mainwavelength, the sub wavelength and stopping of the main measurement asthe measurement condition (acquisition condition) and acquiring thesecond optical information under the selected condition. FIG. 33 is aflow chart showing the procedure of a specimen analyzing operation of aspecimen analyzing apparatus according to a modification of the secondembodiment. In the flow chart shown in FIG. 33, processing other thansteps S206, S210, S211 and S212 is similar to the processing of thesecond embodiment shown in FIG. 28. If an absorbance at a mainwavelength calculated from first optical information measured in a firstoptical information acquisition portion 240 is less than a threshold ata step S103, a CPU 401 a sets an analytic wavelength for acquiringsecond optical information to a main wavelength at a step S104. At astep S105, secondary dispensation processing is performed, and ameasurement sample is prepared. A cuvette 152 of a secondarydispensation table 23 storing the measurement sample is moved into aninsertion hole 271 a of a cuvette receiving portion 271 of a secondoptical information acquisition portion 270. At the step S206, adetection portion 272 of the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 performs optical measurement (main measurement) on themeasurement sample stored in the cuvette 152 under a prescribedcondition, thereby acquiring prescribed optical information (secondoptical information) from the measurement sample. More specifically,rotation of a filter portion 253 is stopped so that a branched opticalfiber 257 applies a light of the main wavelength set as the analyticwavelength. The light of the main wavelength applied from the branchedoptical fiber 257 and transmitted through the cuvette 152 and themeasurement sample stored in the cuvette 152 is detected by aphotoelectric conversion element 272 b. An electric signal correspondingto the light of the main wavelength converted by the photoelectricconversion element 272 b is amplified by a preamplifier 272 c, andthereafter input in an amplification portion 76.

In the amplification portion 76, the electric signal corresponding tothe light of the main wavelength received from the preamplifier 272 c(see FIG. 27) is input in an amplifier (H) 76 b having a highamplification factor and an amplifier (L) 76 a having a normalamplification factor respectively. A controller 79 controls a changeoverswitch 76 c, so that the electric signal amplified by a selected one ofthe amplifier (H) 76 b and the amplifier (L) 76 a is output to an A/Dconverter 77. Thus, a single type of electric signal acquired under acondition suitable for analysis is output to the A/D converter 77. Thiselectric signal is converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter77, temporarily stored in a logger 78, and thereafter successivelytransmitted to a control portion 4 a of a control unit 4. Thus,acquisition of optical information (second optical information) obtainedby measuring the measurement sample at the main wavelength by the secondoptical information acquisition portion 270 is completed.

If an absorbance at a sub wavelength calculated from first opticalinformation measured in the first optical information acquisitionportion 240 is less than a threshold at a step S107, on the other hand,the CPU 401 a sets an analytic wavelength for acquiring second opticalinformation to a sub wavelength at a step S108. At steps S109 and S210,rotation of the filter portion 253 is stopped so that a light of the subwavelength set as the analytic wavelength is applied from the branchedoptical fiber 257, and the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 acquires optical information (second optical information)obtained by measuring the measurement sample at the sub wavelength.

After the acquisition of the second optical information (mainmeasurement) with the second optical information acquisition portion 270at the aforementioned step S206, a plurality of second opticalinformation measured in the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 are transmitted to and analyzed by the control portion 4 aof the control portion 4 at the step S211. Thereafter the controlportion 4 a receiving second optical information acquired at the mainwavelength outputs analysis results on the basis of the second opticalinformation.

Similarly, after the acquisition of the second optical information (mainmeasurement) with the second optical information acquisition portion 270at the aforementioned step S210, a plurality of second opticalinformation measured in the second optical information acquisitionportion 270 are transmitted to and analyzed by the control portion 4 aof the control unit 4 at the step S212. Thereafter the control portion 4a receiving second optical information acquired at the sub wavelengthoutputs analysis results on the basis of the second optical information.

Thus, the control portion of the control unit can obtain second opticalinformation suitable for analysis in response to the types ofinterference substances (hemoglobin, bilirubin and lipid) in thespecimen and the degrees of inclusion thereof.

While influences by the interference substances in the main measurementare determined by comparing the absorbances calculated from the firstoptical information with the thresholds at the steps S103 and S107 inthe second embodiment and the aforementioned modification, the presentinvention is not restricted to this but influences by the interferencesubstances in the main measurement may alternatively be determined bycomparing the first optical information with the threshold, for example.

In the aforementioned case of selecting the condition for acquiringsecond optical information in response to the analytic results of thefirst optical information acquired by the first optical informationacquisition portion, the amplification portion of the second opticalinformation acquisition portion may be constituted of an amplifier (L)76 a having a prescribed gain (amplification factor), an amplifier (H)76 b having a higher gain (amplification factor) than the amplifier (L)76 a and a changeover switch 76 c selecting whether to output electricsignals received from the amplifier (L) 76 a to an A/D converter 77 orto output electric signals received from the amplifier (H) 76 b to theA/D converter 77, similarly to the aforementioned first embodiment shownin FIG. 8. According to this structure, either the amplifier (L) 76 a orthe amplifier (H) 76 b can be selected when acquiring second opticalinformation in response to the analysis results of the first opticalinformation obtained by the first optical information acquisitionportion 40. Thus, second optical information can be acquired with anamplification factor suitable for analysis by the control portion 4 a ofthe control unit 4 in response to the types of the interferencesubstances in the specimen and the degrees of inclusion thereof.

In the aforementioned case of selecting the condition for acquiringsecond optical information in response to the analysis results of thefirst optical information acquired by the first optical informationacquisition portion, the amplification portion of the second opticalinformation acquisition portion may be constituted of an amplifier 176 aand an electronic volume 176 b, similarly to the modification of theaforementioned first embodiment shown in FIG. 32. In this case, theamplifier 176 a of an amplification portion 176 is so formed that thegain (amplification factor) of the amplifier 176 a can be adjusted byinputting a control signal received from a controller 79 in theelectronic volume 176 b. Also according to this structure, the gain(amplification factor) of the amplifier 176 a can be adjusted to a gainsuitable for analysis when second optical information is acquired inresponse to the analysis results of the first optical informationobtained by the first optical information acquisition portion 40.

While the example of applying the lights of three different wavelengthsto the specimens stored in the cuvettes with the light-emitting diode(LED) in the first optical information acquisition portion has beendescribed in the aforementioned first embodiment, the present inventionis not restricted to this but lights of different wavelengths mayalternatively be applied to the specimens stored in the cuvettes fromthe lamp portion of the second optical information acquisition portionwith an optical fiber or the like.

While the example of performing optical measurement (main measurement)of the specimens (measurement samples) with the coagulation time methodhas been shown in the aforementioned second embodiment, the presentinvention is not restricted to this but optical measurement of thespecimens (measurement samples) may alternatively be performed with thesynthetic substrate method or immunonephelometry other than thecoagulation time method.

While the examples of providing the detection mechanism portions and thecontrol units independently of each other have been shown in theaforementioned first and second embodiments, the present invention isnot restricted to this but the function of the control unit mayalternatively be provided on the detection mechanism portion.

What is claimed is:
 1. A specimen analyzing apparatus comprising: afirst container holding portion having an annular shape, comprising afirst holder configured to hold a first container, and rotationallytransferring said first holder holding said first container to apredetermined position; a first dispensing portion configured to suck aspecimen stored in a specimen container transported by a transportingdevice and configured to discharge the specimen into said firstcontainer held by said first holder, such that said first containerstores only the discharged specimen; wherein the first container has apermanently closed end prior to discharging the specimen into the firstcontainer; a first optical measurement portion configured to opticallymeasure said specimen in said first container held by said first holderwhich has been transferred to the predetermined position by rotating thefirst container holding portion, wherein said first optical measurementportion comprises a light emitter and a light receiver, said lightemitter is arranged at a position where said light emitter emits lightto said first container held by said first holder located at thepredetermined position, and said light receiver is arranged at aposition where said light receiver receives light emitted from saidlight emitter through said first container; and a second containerholding portion having an annular shape, comprising a second holderconfigured to hold a second container, and being arranged concentricallywith the first container holding portion inside the first containerholding portion, wherein a shape of the second container is the same asa shape of the first container; a second dispensing portion configuredto suck said optically measured specimen stored in said first containerheld by said first holder and configured to discharge the specimen intosaid second container held by said second holder; a reagent holdingportion having a circular shape, comprising a reagent holder configuredto hold a reagent container which stores a reagent, and being arrangedconcentrically with the first container holding portion and the secondcontainer holding portion inside the second container holding portion; ameasurement sample preparation portion configured to prepare ameasurement sample by sucking said reagent stored in said reagentcontainer held by said reagent holding portion and discharging saidreagent into said second container which stores said specimen and isheld by said second holder; a second optical measurement portionconfigured to optically measure said measurement sample in said secondcontainer; and an analysis portion configured to analyze a measurementresult of said measurement sample by said second optical measurementportion.
 2. The specimen analyzing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said first dispensing portion includes a pipe which is to beinserted into said specimen container configured to suck said specimen,said specimen container includes a lid configured to close an opening ofsaid specimen container, and said first dispensing portion sucks saidspecimen from said specimen container by passing said pipe through saidlid.
 3. The specimen analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid first optical measurement portion obtains information related topresence of an interfering substance in the specimen by the opticalmeasurement of the specimen.
 4. The specimen analyzing apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein said interfering substance includes atleast one selected from a group consisting of hemoglobin, bilirubin andlipid.
 5. The specimen analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe first dispensing portion comprises a sample dispensing unit whichcomprises a dispensing nozzle configured to dispense the specimen storedin the specimen container into the first container, and the seconddispensing portion comprises the sample dispensing unit and dispensesthe specimen stored in the first container into the second container byusing the dispensing nozzle of the sample dispensing unit.
 6. Thespecimen analyzing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: aprocessor coupled to a memory, wherein the processor is programmed toperform operations comprising: determining whether the second dispensingportion executes a dispensing of said specimen into said secondcontainer according to the results of the optical measurement of saidspecimen by said first optical measurement portion; and controlling thesecond dispensing portion so as not to dispense the specimen into thesecond container when is the processor has determined that the seconddispensing portion does not execute the dispensing of said specimen intosaid second container.
 7. The specimen analyzing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to a memory, wherein theprocessor is programmed to control at least one of a dispensingoperation by said second dispensing portion, an optical measuringoperation by said second optical measurement portion and an analyzingoperation by said analysis portion, according to a result of the opticalmeasurement of said specimen by the first optical measurement portion.8. The specimen analyzing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein saidsecond optical measurement portion comprises: a lamp unit configured toapply a plurality of light to said measurement sample, each of theplurality of light having a different wavelength from each other; and adetector configured to detect a plurality of optical information fromsaid measurement sample which is applied the plurality of light fromsaid lamp unit, and wherein the plurality of light comprises a firstlight having a first wavelength and a second light having a secondwavelength, and the plurality of optical information comprises a firstoptical information corresponding to the first light and the secondoptical information corresponding to the second light, and saidprocessor is programmed to perform operations comprising: selecting thefirst optical information when the result of the optical measurement bythe first optical measurement portion is in a first range; selecting thesecond optical information when the result of the optical measurement bythe first optical measurement portion is in a second range; andcontrolling the analysis portion so as to analyze the selected opticalinformation.
 9. The specimen analyzing apparatus according to claim 8,wherein said first optical measurement portion performs the opticalmeasurement with the lamp unit.
 10. The specimen analyzing apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the processor is programmed to performoperations comprising: obtaining absorbance of the specimen based on ameasurement result of the optical measurement of said specimen by thefirst optical measurement portion; and controlling the analyzingoperation by said analysis portion according to the absorbance of saidspecimen.
 11. The specimen analyzing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said second container holding portion is configured torotationally transfer said second holder holding said second container.12. A specimen analyzing apparatus comprising: a first container holdingportion comprising a first holder configured to hold a first cuvette andconfigured to transfer the first holder to a predetermined position; asecond container holding portion comprising a second holder configuredto hold a second cuvette, wherein a shape of the second cuvette is thesame as a shape of the first cuvette; a cuvette supplying portionconfigured to supply the first and second cuvettes to the first andsecond holders, respectively, wherein the cuvette supplying portioncomprises a storage part configured to store the first and secondcuvettes, a slider configured to slide down the first and secondcuvettes stored in the storage part, a gripper configured to gasp eachof the first and second cuvettes transported by the slider, and atransfer part configured to transfer the gripper grasping each of thefirst and second cuvettes to each of the first and second holders,respectively; a first dispensing portion configured to suck a specimenstored in a specimen container transported by a transporting device andconfigured to discharge the specimen into the first cuvette held by thefirst holder, such that the first cuvette stores only the dischargedspecimen; a first optical measurement portion configured to opticallymeasure the specimen in the first cuvette held by the first holder whichhas been transferred to the predetermined position by the firstcontainer holding portion, wherein the first optical measurement portioncomprises a light emitter and a light receiver, the light emitter isarranged at a position where the light emitter emits light to the firstcuvette held by the first holder located at the predetermined position,and the light receiver is arranged at a position where the lightreceiver receives light emitted from the light emitter through the firstcuvette; a second dispensing portion configured to suck the opticallymeasured specimen stored in the first cuvette held by the first holderand configured to discharge the specimen into the second cuvette held bythe second holder; a reagent holding portion comprising a reagent holderconfigured to hold reagent container which stores a regent; ameasurement sample preparation portion configured to prepare ameasurement sample by sucking the reagent stored in the reagentcontainer held by the reagent holding portion and discharging saidreagent into the second cuvette which stores the specimen and is held bythe second holder; a second optical measurement portion configured tooptically measure the measurement sample in the second cuvette; and ananalysis portion configured to analyze a measurement result of themeasurement sample by the second optical measurement portion.